XN000022-1986-07-30 — Page 57

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 1986

+THERE IS AT PRESENT NO LEGISLATION WHICH DEALS SPECIFICALLY WITH DOMESTIC INSECTICIDES, HE SAID,

+HOWEVER, THE INGREDIENTS OF SOME SUCH INSECTICIDES ARE INCLUDED IN THE POISONS LIST MADE UNDER THE PHARMACY AND POISONS ORDINANCE AND IN THESE CASES THE PESTICIDES ARE SUBJECT TO CONTROLS IN RESPECT OF STORAGE, TRANSPORT, SALE, LABELLING AND BOTTLING.+

HE SAID THAT DOMESTIC INSECTICIDES COMPRISED DIVERSE GROUPS OF COMPOUND OF VARYING DEGREES OF TOXICITY, AND THE TOXICITY OF AN INSECTICIDE VARIED WITH THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE INGREDIENTS, THEIR RESPECTIVE CONCENTRATION IN THE PRODUCT, THE MODE OF APPLICATION AND THE ACTUAL QUANTITY USED.

+IN GENERAL, IF DOMESTIC INSECTICIDES ARE USED PROPERLY THE HEALTH RISK SHOULD BE NEGLIGIBLE. HOWEVER, IMPROPER OR INDISCRIMINATE USE MAY LEAD TO HARMFUL EFFECTS,+ HE SAID.

+ THE NORMAL USE OF DOMESTIC INSECTICIDES IS UNLIKELY TO LEAD TO CONTAMINATION OF THE GENERAL ENVIRONMENT.

+

+HOWEVER, INDISCRIMINATE DISPOSAL OF LARGE QUANTITIES COULD LEAD TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION.+

CENTRES HELPING EX-MENTAL PATIENTS RE-INTEGRATE *****

THE PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IN ESTABLISHING COMMUNITY THERAPEUTIC CENTRES IS TO HELP EX-MENTAL PATIENTS TO RE-INTEGRATE INTO THE COMMUNITY AND TO LIVE INDEPENDENTLY, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON NE IL HENDERSON, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO QUESTIONS BY THE HON LIU LIT-FOR IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR HENDERSON SAID SINCE THE CENTRES THEMSELVES WERE RESIDENTIAL THEY HAD TO BE CLOSE TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS.

HE SAID THE IDENTIFICATION OF SITES FOR THE CENTRES HAD TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION SEVERAL FACTORS.

+FIRSTLY, THE SITE HAS TO BE IN A LOCATION ADJACENT TO AN ESTABLISHED RESIDENTIAL AREA. THIS IS NECESSARY TO SERVE THE PURPOSES OF RE-INTEGRATION AND THERAPY THROUGH CONTACT WITH THE COMMUNITY, + HE SAID.

+SECONDLY, WE NEED SITES WHICH ARE READILY AVAILABLE BECAUSE OF THE URGENT DEMANDS FOR THE SERVICE.

/+THIRDLY,