XN000022-1986-11-12 — Page 35

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1986

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ASBESTOS IN BUS SHELTERS NOT APPRECIABLE HEALTH HAZARD

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BUS SHELTERS WHICH CONTAIN ASBESTOS DO NOT POSE ANY APPRECIABLE HEALTH HAZARD TO THE PUBLIC, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON GRAHAM BARNES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

ANSWERING A QUESTION FROM THE HON PAULINE NG, MR BARNES SAID THE ASBESTOS WAS CONTAINED IN AN ASBESTOS CEMENT ROOFING MATERIAL WHERE THE ASBESTOS FIBRES WERE HELD FAST BY THE CEMENT. +RELEASE OF FIBRES INTO THE AIR WOULD ONLY OCCUR IF THE MATERIAL WAS BADLY DAMAGED,+ MR BRANES SAID.

THE BUS COMPANIES WHO WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR BUILDING THE SHELTERS ALSO MAINTAINED THEM, AND IF THERE WAS ANY NEED TO REPLACE ROOFING PANELS, A SUBSTITUTE WHICH DID NOT CONTAIN ASBESTOS CEMENT WAS NOW USED.

+ IN THE COURSE OF TIME, UNDER THE NORMAL MAINTENANCE PROGRAMME, ALL ASBESTOS CEMENT WILL ULTIMATELY BE REPLACED,+ HE SAID.

+NO ASBESTOS MATERIALS ARE NOW USED IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW BUS SHELTERS.

+SO I THINK I CAN CONFIDENTLY ASSURE MRS NG THAT BUS SHELTERS ARE SAFE TO THE PUBLIC,+ HE SAID.

HONORARIUM FOR DB MEMBERS TO BE REVIEWED

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A REVIEW ON THE LEVEL OF HONORARIUM FOR DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WOULD BE CARRIED OUT NEXT YEAR, THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DONALD LIAO, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM DR THE HON CONRAD LAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR LIAO SAID IT WAS THE INTENTION OF GOVERNMENT TO INTRODUCE A MECHANISM WHEREBY THE LEVEL OF HONORARIUM FOR DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS WILL BE REVIEWED IN THE LIGHT OF THE RESULTS OF THE PAY TREND SURVEY CONDUCTED EVERY YEAR.

+THIS MEANS THAT A REVIEW WILL BE CARRIED OUT EARLY NEXT YEAR SO THAT AN INCREASE IN THE LEVEL OF HONORARIUM WILL TAKE EFFECT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR, + HE ADDED.

/MR LIAQ