XN000022-1988-07-13 — Page 24

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 1988

HE STRESSED THAT ONCE THE PROVISIONS IN THE BILL HAD BEEN ENACTED, THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD TAKE POSITIVE ACTION TO ENFORCE ORDINANCE.

THE

NOTING THE CONCERNS OF THE CHINESE MEDICINE DEALERS, MR HSU REITERATED THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL WAS TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC AGAINST THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF UNDESIRABLE MEDICAL ADVERTISEMENTS.

"WE ARE NOT STOPPING ALL ADVERTISEMENTS ON MEDICINE AS SUCH. THOSE WHICH DO NOT CONTRAVENE THE LAW WILL BE ABLE ΤΟ CONTINUE," HE POINTED OUT.

"IN THIS RESPECT, THE ADMINISTRATION HAS MET WITH REPRESENTATIVES OF A CHINESE MEDICINE MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION DURING THE CONSULTATION PERIOD AND HAS ALSO GIVEN GUIDANCE ON THEIR COMMONLY USED TERMS, DESCRIPTIONS AND PRODUCT NAMES, MOST OF WHICH ARE IN FACT ACCEPTABLE.

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ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A VETTING AUTHORITY WITHIN THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT FOR ALL ADVERTISEMENTS ON CHINESE MEDICINE, MR HSU SAID THE SUGGESTION HAD BEEN CONSIDERED, BUT WAS FOUND TO BE INAPPROPRIATE BECAUSE THE DEPARTMENT HAD NO EXPERTISE ΤΟ DEAL WITH

CHINESE MEDICINE.

"FURTHERMORE, WE SHOULD AVOID A SITUATION WHERE ADVERTISEMENTS MIGHT BE USED TO CLAIM THAT THE PRODUCTS ADVERTISED HAD BEEN VETTED BY THE DEPARTMENT AND HAD RECEIVED SOME FORM OF OFFICIAL APPROVAL, HE ADDED.

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HOWEVER, MR HSU SAID THE MEDICINE DEALERS WERE ALWAYS WELCOME SEEK FURTHER INFORMATION OR CLARIFICATION ON TERMINOLOGY OF DISEASES GENERALLY FROM THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT.

ΤΟ

REGARDING PART 11 OF THE BILL WHICH PROHIBITED ADVERTISEMENTS IN THE FORM OF PACKAGES AND LABELS, MR HSU SAID IT WOULD NOT COME INTO EFFECT UNTIL 24 MONTHS AFTER PART 1 CAME INTO OPERATION,

THERE WOULD BE SUFFICIENT TIME FOR THE NECESSARY REPRINTING ΤΟ BE DONE, HE SAID,

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