XN000022-1986-08-21 — Page 2

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 21, 1986

IMPORTED CHOLERA CASE CONFIRMED

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THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) CONFIRMED ONE IMPORTED CHOLERA CASE. THE PATIENT IS A 52-YEAR-OLD FEMALE RESIDENT IN HUNG HOM, WHO RETURNED FROM CHINA ON AUGUST 15.

SHE WAS ADMITTED TO QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL ON AUGUST 19, SUFFERING FROM DIARRHOEA. SHE WAS TRANSFERRED TO PRINCESS MARGARET HOSPITAL THE FOLLOWING DAY. HER CONDITION IS SATISFACTORY.

+CHOLERA IS ENDEMIC IN THIS PART OF THE WORLD AND RECURRENCE OF THIS DISEASE IS EXPECTED FROM TIME TO TIME, A DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID.

+MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ARE REMINDED TO MAINTAIN THEIR EFFORTS IN KEEPING THEIR FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT CLEAN AND IN PRACTISING STRICT PERSONAL HYGIENE, HE ADDED.

MEANWHILE UP TO 4 PM TODAY, A TOTAL OF 365 PEOPLE RECEIVED INOCULATION AT THE EIGHT VACCINATION CENTRES AND PORT HE AL TH OFFICES.

FIRST QUARTER INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION INDEX PUBLISHED

X X X X X

THE INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION IN THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1986 AT 116.8, WAS 7.3 POINTS OR 6.7 PER CENT HIGHER THAN THAT IN THE SAME QUARTER OF 1985, ACCORDING TO STATISTICS RELEASED TODAY BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

THE FIRST QUARTER IS NORMALLY A SEASONAL LOW FOR INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION BECAUSE MOST WORKERS TAKE THEIR ANNUAL LEAVE DURING THE CHINESE NEW YEAR. COMPARING THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1986 WITH THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 1985, THE INDEX OF INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTION DECLINED BY 21.1 POINTS OR 15.3 PER CENT.

THE MOST SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN PRODUCTION OVER THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1985 WAS RECORDED IN LEATHER PRODUCTS AND FOOTWEAR (+47.5 PER CENT). THE TRANSPORT EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY ALSO SHOWED A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE (+37.8 PER CENT) AS MORE PRODUCTION WAS CARRIED OUT IN THE RENOVATION AND REPAIRING OF SHIPS.

THE OTHER INDUSTRIES WITH AN INCREASE IN PRODUCTION OVER THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1985 INCLUDED PROFESSIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC EQUIPMENT, PHOTOGRAPHIC AND OPTICAL GOODS, WATCHES AND CLOCKS (+25.6 PER CENT); TEXTILES (+17.5 PER CENT) NON-ELECTRICAL MACHINERY (+13.1 PER CENT) BASIC METALS (+12.8 PER CENT) NON-METALLIC MINERAL PRODUCTS (+12.1 PER CENT); FOOD (+11.2 PER CENT) AND BEVERAGES (+11.0 PER CENT).

/HOWELLER, A