XN000022-1991-01-09 — Page 14

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1991

"THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE IS CURRENTLY UNDERTAKING A SURVEY ON DANGEROUS BUILDINGS WHICH WILL ALSO COVER THE INSPECTION OF DANGEROUS SIGNS.

SIGNS

"THIS WILL FURTHER STRENGTHEN THE ACTION ON DANGEROUS AND ENSURE THAT THEY WILL BE IDENTIFIED AND REMOVED IN A TIMELY AND EFFICIENT MANNER, HE ADDED.

MONITORING OF SUPPLY OF METHADONE CONSIDERED ADEQUATE

IS

THE CURRENT MONITORING OF THE SUPPLY OF METHADONE CONSIDERED ADEQUATE, BUT SHOULD THERE BE CLEAR INDICATIONS THAT THIS IS NOT SO, ADDITIONAL MONITORING MEASURES WILL BE CONSIDERED, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON IAN STRACHAN, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON RONALD CHOW, MR STRACHAN SAID ALL WHOLESALERS AND AUTHORISED SELLERS OF DANGEROUS DRUGS WERE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT INFORMATION ON TRANSACTIONS INVOLVING METHADONE AND OTHER DANGEROUS DRUGS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

"ON THE BASIS OF THIS INFORMATION THE DEPARTMENT REQUESTS ALL PRIVATE MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS WHO HAVE BOUGHT QUANTITIES OF METHADONE IN EXCESS OF WHAT MIGHT BE EXPECTED FOR NORMAL MEDICAL PRACTICE TO SUBMIT AN EXPLANATION FOR THEIR PURCHASES," HE SAID.

MR STRACHAN SAID THE DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO MONITOR ROUTINELY THE PROCUREMENT BY PRIVATE MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS OF METHADONE AND OTHER DRUGS LIABLE TO ABUSE, AND IF ANY MALPRACTICE COMES TO LIGHT, APPROPRIATE MEASURES WOULD BE TAKEN.

SUCH MEASURES MIGHT INCLUDE REFERRAL TO THE HONG KONG MEDICAL COUNCIL FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION, AND REFERRAL ΤΟ THE POLICE FOR INVESTIGATION SHOULD ANY BREACH OF THE LAW BE SUSPECTED, HE SAID.

MR STRACHAN NOTED THAT AT PRESENT, METHADONE WAS INCLUDED IN PART I OF THE FIRST SCHEDULE TO THE DANGEROUS DRUGS ORDINANCE, WHICH IMPOSED STRINGENT CONTROLS ON THE SUPPLY OF SUCH DRUGS.

AS

**UNDER PART IV OF THE ORDINANCE REGISTERED MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS ARE AUTHORISED TO SUPPLY SUCH DANGEROUS DRUGS SO FAR MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THE PRACTICE OR EXERCISE OF THEIR PROFESSION.

гр

OF

"METHADONE MAY LEGITIMATELY BE SUPPLIED FOR THE TREATMENT ADDICTION TO OPIATE DRUGS SUCH AS HEROIN AND OPIUM, THE SECRETARY EXPLAINED.

/MR STRACHAN