XN000022-1989-07-19 — Page 15

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1989

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YET THERE WERE A FEW ISSUES WHICH MIGHT PRODUCE DISTURBANCES IN HEALTH AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED, HE SAID, ADDING THESE INCLUDED PASSIVE SMOKING AND LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE OR BUILDING SYNDROME".

VAST

THAT

"SICK

DR LEONG SAID LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE, A SILENT KILLER LIKE INFLUENZA OR PNEUMONIA, WAS MOST COMMON IN AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS THAT USED WATER SPRAYS IN THE COOLING TOWERS.

"IT IS THROUGH THESE CENTRALISED CLOSED AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS THAT RAPID SPREAD OF SUCH DISEASE MAY UNSUE FROM OFFICE TO OFFICE, WARDS TO WARDS." HE SAID.

HE SAID THAT ALTHOUGH THIS DISEASE WAS NOT AS YET A THREAT TO HONG KONG, ACTIVE MEASURES SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BEFORE IT WAS TOO LATE.

DR LEONG SAID THE COMPLETE LACK OF CONSIDERATION IN THE PLANNING OF BUILDINGS IN RELATION TO ENVIRONMENTAL AIR FOLLUTION HAD REACHED A PEAK IN THE ERECTING OF HOSPITALS SURROUNDED BY INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS.

FOR

"ONE TYPICAL EXAMPLE IS THE CARITAS MEDICAL CENTRE, WHICH, LACK OF ADEQUATE FUNDING FOR CENTRALISED AIR CONDITIONING, NEEDS TO OPEN THE WINDOWS OF THE HOSPITAL FOR BETTER CROSS VENTILATION.

"THESE WINDOWS FACE DIRECTLY THE FULL BLAST OF EXHAUST FANS FROM THE SURROUNDING INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS COMPLETELY TO THE DETRIMENT OF HEALTH OF THE POOR SICK INMATES OF THE HOSPITAL.

"SUCH FALLACIES SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND ADDRESSED AND BETTER INTEGRATION BE INSTITUTED. LESS HONG KONG DROWN IN ITS OWN POLLUTION," DR LEONG SAID.

GOVT URGED TO HELP INDUSTRY IN POLLUTION CONTROL

ΤΗ

IN

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD HELP INDUSTRIALISTS AND MANUFACTURERS FIGHT AGAINST POLLUTION, THE HON JAMES TIEN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN THE DEBATE

THE ON

WHITE

PAPER ON POLLUTION.

MR TIEN NOTED THAT UNDER THE WHITE PAPER PROPOSALS, NEW WATER CONTROL ZONES WOULD BE DECLARED.

BY

INDUSTRIES IN THE CONTROL ZONES WHICH WERE STILL NOT SERVED ADEQUATE SIZE SEWERS WOULD HAVE TO TREAT THEIR WASTE WATER TO A MUCH MORE STRINGENT DISCHARGE REQUIREMENT.

AS A RESULT, THE POLLUTION CONTROL COST TO BE BORNE BY INDUSTRY WOULD BE HIGHER.

/TO HELP