XN000022-1987-12-09 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1987

WHITE PAPER OUT IN FEBRUARY

THE WHITE PAPER ON THE REVIEW OF DEVELOPMENT IN REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT WILL BE PUBLISHED IN EARLY FEBRUARY 1988, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON DAVID FORD, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHAN YING-LUN MR FORD SAID PREPARATIONS WERE WELL ADVANCED FOR THE NEXT DISTRICT" BOARD ELECTIONS TO BE HELD ON MARCH 10, 1988.

MR FORD ALSO SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD ALREADY ANNOUNCED

TO CONSTITUENCY BOUNDARIES SOME TIME AGO.

CHANGES

"OTHER ARRANGEMENTS, INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF ELECTED SEATS TO BE FILLED, WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN GOOD TIME BEFORE NOMINATIONS ARE OPENED EARLY NEXT MONTH,' HE ADDED.

"

GOVERNMENT MOVES TO GUARD AGAINST VEGETABLE CONTAMINATION

THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN HAS ASSURED THAT MEASURES HAVE BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE PROTECT THE PUBLIC AGAINST THE DANGER OF CONTAMINATED IMPORTED INTO HONG KONG.

CHAMBERS, TAKEN TO

VEGETABLES: BLESS

SPEAKING AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY} AFTERNOON IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR. THE HON CONRAD LAM, MR CHAMBERS SAID THE RECENT OUTBREAK OF FOOD POISONING CASES WAS CAUSED BY VEGETABLES CONTAMINATED WITH A PESTICIDE CALLED METHAMIDOPHOS.

THE IMPORT, POSSESSION AND USE OF METHAMIDOPHOS WAS NOT ALLOWED IN HONG KONG, SAID MR CHAMBERS.

FOR THE PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH, HE SAID, THE FOOD SECTION OF THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH IMPLEMENTED A CONTINUOUS FOOD SAFETY SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMME WHEREBY FOOD, BOTH LOCALLY PRODUCED AND IMPORTED, WAS CHECKED FOR COMPLIANCE WITH STATUTORY STANDARDS TO ENSURE THAT IT WAS SAFE AND WHOLESOME,

HE SAID:

"THE FOOD SECTION HAS THEREFORE STEPPED UP ITS MONITORING WORK AT THE BORDER WITH A VIEW TO STOPPING IMPORT OF CONTAMINATED VEGETABLES INTO HONG KONG,

/"CONSIGNMENTS OF