XN000022-1986-05-14 — Page 14

WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 1986

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SATISFACTORY MONITORING OF LEAD IN CERAMICS

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THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR MONITORING THE LEVEL OF LEAD CONTENT IN CERAMIC WARE, ESPECIALLY ARTICLES USED IN RESTAURANTS, APPEAR TO BE SATISFACTORY AND THERE ARE NO PLANS TO INTRODUCE FURTHER CONTROL MEASURES, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM DR THE HON RICHARD LAI IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR CHAMBERS SAID NONE OF THE REPORTED CASES OF LEAD POISONING DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS HAD BEEN FOUND TO BE ATTRIBUTABLE TO CERAMIC UTENSILS.

HE SAID THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH HAD ADVISED RESTAURANT OPERATORS THAT CERTAIN TYPES OF HIGHLY COLOURED EATING UTENSILS MIGHT CONTAIN AN EXCESSIVE LEVEL OF LEAD AND THAT FOOD SHOULD NOT BE SERVED OR STORED IN THEM.

IMPORTERS, TRADERS AND LOCAL MANUFACTURERS OF EATING UTENSILS WERE ALSO ADVISED OF A NUMBER OF PRECAUTIONS THAT THEY SHOULD TAKE TO PROVIDE A SAFE PRODUCT FOR USE BY CONSUMERS, HE SAID.

+THE GUIDELINE LEVEL OF LEAD CONTENT WHICH HAS BEEN ADOPTED IS THAT OF THE BRITISH STANDARD SPECIFICATION WHICH IS SEVEN PARTS PER MILLION (PPM),+ HE SAID.

MR CHAMBERS SAID THE CONSUMER COUNCIL HAD ALSO WARNED THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE DANGERS OF USING HIGHLY COLOURED POTTERY AND HAD

· OBTAINED AN ASSURANCE FROM CHINESE EXPORTERS, WHO WERE A MAJOR SUPPLIER OF EATING UTENSILS, THAT SUB-STANDARD UTENSILS WOULD NOT BE IMPORTED INTO HONG KONG.

DTC DE-REGISTRATION: NOT MANY DEPOSITORS SUFFERED

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WITH THE EXCEPTION OF ONE CASE, NO DEPOSITORS HAD SUFFERED MONETARY LOSS AS A RESULT OF THE DE-REGISTRATION OF 44 DEPOSIT- TAK ING COMPANIES SINCE APRIL 1985, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON SIR JOHN BREMRIDGE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

+THIS SINGLE CASE, SIR JOHN SAID IN REPLYING TO A QUESTION

+ BY THE HON LIU LIT-FOR, IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE COMMERCIAL CRIME BUREAU AND THE LIQUIDATOR. IT WOULD NOT BE PROPER FOR ME TO DISCLOSE DETAILS.+

/HE ADDED