XN000022-1988-02-02 — Page 6

5

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1988

IN ADDITION, THE TECHNIQUE

HAD PROVEN ECONOMICALLY FEASIBLE WITH THE BACTERIAL PRODUCT COSTING APPROXIMATELY $50 PER PORKER AND $15 PER ROASTER, AND THE INEXPENSIVE SAWDUST LITTER COULD BE USED REPEATEDLY.

SUCH COST COULD BE REDUCED BY IMPROVEMENT IN PERFORMANCE, SAVINGS IN LABOUR AND BULK PURCHASE OF THE BACTERIAL PRODUCT.

THE VISITORS ALSO LEARNED THAT WHILE THE EXPERIMENT INITIALLY CONCENTRATED ON "GROWER" PIGS WHICH CONSTITUTE ABOUT 80 PER CENT OF THE PIG RAISING BUSINESS, PLANS WERE IN HAND TO CONDUCT FURTHER TESTS ON PREGNANT SOWS, FARROWING SOWS AND SUCKLING PIGS.

WITH SOME FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT, A NUMBER OF THE EXISTING PIGSTIES AT TA KWU LING PIG BREEDING CENTRE WERE BEING MODIFIED TO TEST IMPROVED PIG PEN DESIGNS FOR THAT PURPOSE, DR LEE ADDED.

M&H STAFF GIVEN REASSURANCE ON CONSULTATION

PROPOSALS CONCERNING THE FUTURE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR STAFF IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT ON THE SETTING UP OF THE PROVISIONAL HOSPITAL AUTHORITY ON APRIL 1 WILL BE SUBJECT TO FULL STAFF CONSULTATION BEFORE ANY DECISION IS TAKEN.

THIS WAS STATED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE PRINCIPAL ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE (STAFF RELATIONS), MR MICHAEL LEE, AFTER A MEETING WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF THE LEAGUE OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT STAFF UNIONS.

AT THE MEETING, THE REPRESENTATIVES REITERATED THEIR CONCERN OVER THE FUTURE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SERVICE FOR STAFF IN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT UPON THE SETTING UP OF THE PROVISIONAL HOSPITAL AUTHORITY.

THEY WERE REASSURED BY MR LEE THAT APRIL 1 HAD NO PARTICULAR SIGNIFICANCE FOR STAFF IN THAT THE OPERATION OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE UNAFFECTED BY THE PROVISIONAL HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WHICH WAS ONLY A PLANNING COMMITTEE FOR THE FORMATION OF THE STATUTORY AUTHORITY IN 1989.

ONE OF THE TASKS OF THE PROVISIONAL HOSPITAL AUTHORITY WILL BE TO WORK OUT A PACKAGE OF NEW TERMS AND CONDITIONS WHICH WILL BE OFFERED TO STAFF OF THE AUTHORITY AND WHICH WILL NOT BE FORCED UPON THE EXISTING STAFF OF THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

"AS REGARDS