XN000022-1987-03-25 — Page 36

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 1987

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NEED TO PROMOTE SAFETY AT HOME STRESSED

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ALTHOUGH THERE IS NO COMPREHENSIVE PLAN IN THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE TO TIGHTEN UP CONTROL MEASURES UNDER THE VARIOUS ORDINANCES WHICH COVER THE SALE AND LABELLING OF DOMESTIC PRODUCTS CONTAINING POISONOUS OR TOXIC SUBSTANCES, THE GOVERNMENT IS FULLY AWARE OF THE NEED TO PROMOTE SAFETY PRACTICES AT HOME, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, THE HON ERIC HO, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON CHUNG PUI-LAM, MR HO SAID THAT DEPENDING ON ONE'S DEFINITION OF DOMESTIC PRODUCTS, THERE WERE A NUMBER OF ORDINANCES WHICH COVERED THE SALE AND LABELLING OF SOME SUCH PRODUCTS,

+HOWEVER, THERE IS NO LEGISLATION WHICH CONTROLS THE USAGE OF THESE PRODUCTS AFTER THEY HAVE BEEN SOLD, HE SAID.

+FOR EXAMPLE, CERTAIN HOUSEHOLD CHEMICALS ARE CONTROLLED UNDER THE PHARMACY AND POISONS ORDINANCE, WHICH REQUIRES THEM TO BE SOLD BY LISTED SELLERS OF POISONS AND LABELLED AS 'POISON',

+THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ORDINANCE CONTAINS PROVISIONS GOVERING THE SALE AND SUPPLY OF DANGEROUS DRUGS BY LICENCE,

+THE AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES ORDINANCE CONTAINS PROVISIONS COVERING THE SALE AND SUPPLY OF AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES BY LICENCE AND FOR THE LABELLING OF REGISTERED AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDES SUPPLIED OR OFFERED ON RETAIL SALE.

+THERE ARE ALSO SOME PROVISIONS UNDER THE ANTIBIOTICS ORDINANCE, THE RADIATION ORDINANCE AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE WHICH MAY BE CONSIDERED RELEVANT TO THE ISSUE+.

MR HO SAID MANY HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THEY CONTAINED TOXIC SUBSTANCES AS SUCH, COULD CAUSE INJURY OR HARM IF THEY WERE USED CARELESSLY OR IN AN INAPPROPRIATE MANNER.

+THE CONSUMER COUNCIL, THROUGH ITS REGULAR PROGRAMME OF PRODUCT TESTING AND SUBSEQUENT DISCLOSURE OF UNSAFE ASPECTS RELATING TO THESE PRODUCTS IN THEIR USE, HAD MADE VERY USEFUL CONTRIBUTIONS IN ALERTING THE PUBLIC'S AWARENESS.

+FOR ITS PART THE GOVERNMENT IS RUNNING A MAJOR PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN ENCOMPASSING MANY ASPECTS OF SAFETY IN THE HOME. INCLUDING THE LOCKING UP OF DRUGS AND ENSURING THAT DANGEROUS OBJECTS ARE KEPT OUT OF CHILDREN'S REACH.

MR HO ADDED THAT PROVISION HAD BEEN INCLUDED IN THE 1987-88 DRAFT ESTIMATES FOR A MAJOR PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT ON SAFETY IN THE HOME.

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