XN000022-1987-11-11 — Page 28

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1987

HE ALSO ENVISAGED THAT STAFF EMPLOYED IN EXISTING GOVERNMENT AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS WOULD IN DUE COURSE BE GIVEN THE OPTION OF EITHER ACCEPTING THE NEW TERMS OR RETAINING THEIR PRESENT CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT.

MR CHAMBERS NOTED THAT SEVERAL SUBVENTED HOSPITALS WERE INTRODUCING VARIOUS FORMS OF PALLIATIVE CARE FOR PATIENTS WHO WERE TERMINALLY ILL, WHILE THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT HAD STARTED TWO PILOT SCHEMES IN THE QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL AND THE PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL FOR A HOSPITAL VISITATION VOLUNTEER SERVICE WHICH WOULD CO-ORDINATE THE VOLUNTARY SERVICES AVAILABLE.

ON GENETIC COUNSELLING, MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY ON MEDICAL GENETICS AND GENETIC COUNSELLING WERE BEING UNDERTAKEN BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, THE HONG KONG SOCIETY OF MEDICAL GENETICS AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES INTERESTED IN THE SUBJECT, AND PLANS HAD BEEN DRAWN UP BY THE DEPARTMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SERVICE.

TURNING TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, MR CHAMBERS SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS PROPOSING TO SPEND MORE THAN $600 MILLION OVER A 10-YEAR PERIOD TO RID STREAMS AND COASTAL WATERS OF THE APPALLING POLLUTION CAUSED BY ANIMAL WASTES. MUCH OF THIS MONEY WOULD BE IN THE FORM OF ASSISTANCE TO THE FARMERS TO HELP THEM COMPLY WITH THE NEW REGULATIONS, AND COMPENSATION TO THOSE WHO WERE UNABLE TO COMPLY.

HE ALSO SAID THE GOVERNMENT MADE VERY GREAT EFFORTS TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG 'S COMPETITIVENESS IN ITS EXPORT MARKETS WAS NOT UNDULY AFFECTED BY POLLUTION CONTROLS.

MR CHAMBERS SAID THAT ONCE THE NOISE CONTROL BILL WAS PASSED, WHICH HE HOPED WOULD BE EARLY NEXT YEAR, HONG HÙNG SHOULD HAVE IN PLACE A COMPREHENSIVE SET OF SUCH LEGISLATION, COVERING AIR, WATER, NOISE AND WASTE DISPOSAL.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT WAS NOW REPRESENTED ALL THE MAJOR PLANNING COMMITTEES, HE NOTED.

ON

IN ADDITION, PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS WERE SUBJECT ΤΟ ENVIRONMENTAL VETTING AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENTS WERE CARRIED OUT FOR MAJOR PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR PROJECTS.

DESPITE AN INCREASE OF 65 PER CENT IN FOSSIL FUEL CONSUMPTION OVER THE LAST DECADE, CAREFUL ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT HAD LED TO A 50 PER CENT DECREASE IN THE CONCENTRATION OF SULPHUR DIOXIDE IN THE ATMOSPHERE, HE ADDED.

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