XN000022-1988-06-29 — Page 30

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1988

"STAFF WHO JOIN THE EPD ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE IN THESE COURSES AS WELL AS ATTENDING SPECIALIST SHORT COURSES BOTH LOCALLY AND OVERSEAS, OR ARE ATTACHED TO RELEVANT INSTITUTIONS ABROAD."

HE NOTED THAT IN 1987-88, SEVEN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICERS HAD ATTENDED PART-TIME MASTER OF SCIENCE COURSES AND 29 HAD ATTENDED SEMINARS AND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES IN HONG KONG.

IN ADDITION, 15 OFFICERS HAD BEEN SENT OVERSEAS ΤΟ ATTEND CONFERENCES, SPECIALIST SHORT COURSES OR ON ATTACHMENT.

FORTY-FOUR TRAINING COURSES HAD BEEN ORGANISED FOR 1988-89.

TO

"IT IS CONSIDERED THAT THE PRESENT ARRANGEMENTS, SUPPLEMENTED BY THE USE OF CONSULTANTS, WHO ARE ABLE TO RESPOND MORE QUICKLY PEAKS IN DEMAND, ARE ADEQUATE TO ENSURE THAT PLANNED ANTI-POLLUTION PROJECTS ARE NOT AFFECTED BY STAFF SHORTAGES.

"THERE MAY, HOWEVER, BE TEMPORARY DIFFICULTIES IN THE SHORT

THE DRAMATIC INCREASE IN ACTIVITY IN THIS FIELD,

TERM, DUE TO MR HSU SAID.

+

CHECKS ON FOOD CONTAINERS

THERE IS NO INDICATION THAT CONTAINERS CURRENTLY BEING USED FOR HOLDING FOOD OR DRINKS POSE A HEALTH RISK TO THE PUBLIC IF HYGIENICALLY HANDLED, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON ADOLF HSU, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP, MR HSU SAID THAT THE USE OF PAPER FOR WRAPPING OR HOLDING OPEN FOOD WAS CONTROLLED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE FOOD BUSINESS (URBAN COUNCIL) AND THE FOOD BUSINESS (REGIONAL COUNCIL) BY-LAWS MADE UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE.

THESE PROVISIONS STIPULATED THAT NO. PERSON IN THE FOOD BUSINESS SHOULD WRAP UP OR OTHERWISE BRING ANY OPEN FOOD INTO DIRECT CONTACT WITH ANY PRINTED NEWSPAPER OR UNCLEAN PAPER OR WRAPPING MATERIAL.

ANY FOOD BUSINESS OPERATOR WHO CONTRAVENED THIS BY-LAW COMMITTED AN OFFENCE.

"AS REGARDS FOOD CONTAINERS MADE OF OTHER MATERIALS, SUCH AS PLASTIC OR FOAM RUBBER, THE MUNICIPAL SERVICES BRANCH HAS BEEN COLLECTING SAMPLES FROM FOOD OUTLETS, WHICH INCLUDE FAST FOOD OUTLETS, FOR CHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF THE MATERIAL IN ORDER TO DETECT UNDESIRABLE SUBSTANCES, MR HSV SAID.

"THIS MONITORING

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