XN000022-1990-02-07 — Page 7

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WI ONESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1990

MRS WONG SAID THE COMMITTEE HAD BEEN FORMED IN 1985 WITH MEMBERSHIP DRAWN FROM WITHIN GOVERNMENT AND THE UNIVERSITIES IN ORDER TO RECOMMEND HOW TO PREVENT AN OUTBREAK OF THE DISEASE IN GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS.

L

BY

"IT CONCLUDED IN 1987 THAT THE DISEASE COULD BE PREVENTED THE PROPER DESIGN OF COOLLING TOWERS AND VENTILATION SYSTEMS, COUPLED WITH THE PROPER OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE OF THESE SYSTEMS, SHE SAID.

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THE

MRS WONG OUTLINED WHAT HAD .BEEN DONE TO APPLY RECOMMENDATIONS, AND SAID THE COMMITTEE HAD RECONVENED LAST YEAR TO CONSIDER HOW TO IMPLEMENT ITS RECOMMENDATIONS TERRITORY-WIDE.

SHE EXPLAINED THAT LEGIONNAIRES' DISEASE WAS CAUSED BY THE BACTERIUM LEGIONELLA PNEUMOPHILA, AND PRODUCED PNEUMONIA-TYPE SYMPTOMS.

"IT IS A WATER-BASED ORGANISM, SURVIVING BEST IN CONDITIONS WITH ABUNDANT SIMPLE ORGANIC LIFE AND INORGANIC

FOR NUTRITION.

WARM, WET SUBSTANCES

BY

BREATHING COOLLING

"IT INFECTS PEOPLE THROUGH INHALATION, TYPICALLY IN AEROSOLS, OR FINE WATER SPRAY, DISSEMINATED FROM WATER TOWERS," MRS WONG SAID.

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COMPARISONS OF PROVIDENT, PENSION SCHEMES DIFFICULT

IT IS DIFFICULT ΤΟ MAKE COMPARISONS BETWEEN PROVIDENT AND PENSION SCHEMES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND THE PENSION SCHEME IN THE PUBLIC SECTOR, THE CHIEF SECRETARY, THE HON SIR DAVID FORD, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

"MOST PROVIDENT FUNDS OPERATED BY PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES PROVIDE A HIGHLY FLEXIBLE SYSTEM ALLOWING EMPLOYEES TO WITHDRAW BENEFIT AND MOVE TO OTHER FIRMS SEVERAL TIMES DURING THEIR CAREER.

THEIR

"IN CONTRAST, THE GOVERNMENT PENSION SCHEME GENERALLY MAKES BENEFITS AVAILABLE ONLY AT THE END OF THE OFFICER'S CAREER," SIR DAVID SAID IN REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON PETER H.Y. WONG,

THE CHIEF SECRETARY EXPLAINED THAT IN 1986 THE UK GOVERNMENT ACTUARY'S DEPARTMENT WAS COMMISSIONED TO ASSESS HONG KONG'S FUTURE CIVIL SERVICE PENSION LIABILITY IN THE COURSE OF EXAMINATION OF THE PROPOSED NEW PENSION SCHEME.

"THE ASSESSMENT HAS RECENTLY BEEN UPDATED BY THE TREASURY WHICH SHOWS THAT THE AVERAGE PENSION ONCOST FOR STAFF ON THE DIRECTORATE AND MASTER PAY SCALES ON THE NEW PENSION SCHEME 25 PER CENT OF SALARY.

IS ABOUT

/"PENSION ONCOST