XN000022-1986-12-04 — Page 9

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THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1986

UNDER THE BILL A TRIBUNAL, TO BE PRESIDED OVER BY A BILINGUAL MAGISTRATE AND LAY ADJUDICATORS, WOULD CLASSIFY WHETHER OR NOT ARTICLES SUCH AS PRINTED MATTER, VIDEOS, TAPES, DISCS AND OTHER OBJECTS WERE OBSCENE OR INDECENT OR NEITHER.

FEES. BASICALLY FIXED AT A LEVEL TO RECOVER ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS, WOULD BE PAYABLE IN RESPECT OF VOLUNTARY SUBMISSIONS FOR CLASSIFICATION AND REPOSITORY SEARCHES. THE EXACT LEVEL OF THE SE FEES WOULD BE DEALT WITH IN SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION.

LAY ADJUDICATORS WOULD RECEIVE AN HONORARIUM SET AT AN APPROPRIATE LEVEL.

DETAILS OF THE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM ARE CONTAINED IN THE BILL TO BE GAZETTED ON DECEMBER 12.

PROUD RECORD IN MEDICAL AND WELFARE SERVICES

*****

HONG KONG CAN BE VERY PROUD OF ITS ACHIEVEMENTS IN MEDICAL AND WELFARE SERVICES WHICH HAVE GROWN OUT OF ALL RECOGNITION DURING THE LAST 30 YEARS.

ADDRESSING THE UNITED COLLEGE 30TH ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE TODAY (THURSDAY), THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MR JOHN CHAMBERS, SAID THAT DEVELOPMENTS IN BOTH THE HEALTH AND WELFARE FIELDS WERE A FAR CRY FROM THE VERY BASIC FACILITIES AND PROVISION OF RELIEF TO THE NEEDIES IN THE 1950'S.

+ DURING THE 50'S, THE TRADITIONAL COMMUNICABLE DISEASES SUCH AS DIPHTHERIA AND TUBERCULOSIS WERE A MAJOR SCOURGE THEY HAVE NOW DROPPED TO VERY LOW LEVELS.

+ THE TB MORTALITY RATE WAS 120 PER 100 000 IN 1955 AND 7.5 PER 100 000 IN 1985. SUCH DISEASES HAVE BEEN REPLACED AS MAJOR CAUSES OF DEATH BY DISEASES OF THE AFFLUENT FIRST WORLD SUCH AS CANCER AND HEART DISEASE.+

MR CHAMBERS POINTED OUT THAT THE INFANT MORTALITY RATE, WHICH WAS ALWAYS AN IMPORTANT INDICATOR OF THE GENERAL HEALTH OF ANY COMMUNITY, FELL FROM 66.4 PER 100 000 LIVE BIRTHS IN 1955 TO 7.6 IN 1985.

/+IN 1984