XN000022-1988-12-14 — Page 31

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 1988

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FEWER CHILDREN HURT CYCLING ON ROADS

THE NUMBER OF CHILDREN INJURED WHILE RIDING BICYCLES ON PUBLIC ROADS IS IN GENERAL DECREASING, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON MICHAEL LEUNG, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR LEUNG POINTED OUT THAT DURING THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THIS YEAR, THE NUMBER OF INJURED CHILDREN AGED UNDER 14 WAS 59 OR 6.5 PER MONTH, COMPARED WITH 110 RECORDED IN THE WHOLE OF 1987 OR 9.1 PER MONTH.

THE YEARLY TOTALS RECORDED IN 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986' WERE

262, 139, 103 AND 138 RESPECTIVELY, MR LEUNG ADDED IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO QUESTION FROM DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP.

TIDYING-UP' EXERCISES OUTSIDE GPO

*

ACTIVE CONSIDERATION WILL BE GIVEN TO CLEARANCE OPERATIONS IN THE MAIN PEDESTRIAN FOOTBRIDGE ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE GENERAL POST OFFICE IN CENTRAL TO CURB ENVIRONMENTAL NUISANCES CAUSED BY STREET SLEEPERS.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS INFORMED OF THIS TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON T.H. CHAU.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON JAMES MR CHAU SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY IN MINIMISING THE ASSOCIATED WITH STREET SLEEPING WAS FORMULATED AT THE SOCIAL AS WELL AS THE STREET MANAGEMENT LEVEL.

MCGREGOR, PROBLEMS WELFARE

THE

FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE POINT OF VIEW, MR CHAU SAID IT WAS GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO USE PERSUASION AND COUNSELLING TO ENCOURAGE

THE VARIOUS SERVICES AND STRERT SLEEPERS TO MAKE USE OF

FORMS OF ACCOMMODATION WHICH COULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THEM.

"IT IS ONLY WHEN SUCH PERSONS APPEAR TO BE IN NEED OF IMMEDIATE CARE AND CONTROL OR MAY POSE A DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR

** HE SAID. OTHERS THAT DIRECT INTERVENTION IS CONSIDERED APPROPRIATE,

MR CHAU POINTED OUT THAT SOME 41 TIDYING-UP EXERCISES HAD CONDUCTED AT THE LOCATION IN QUESTION OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

BREN

/"BUT UNFORTUNATELY ...