XN000022-1991-12-05 — Page 4

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1991

HE SAID

IMPLEMENTED BY

MOST OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS HAD ALREADY BEEN нко, THOUGH SOME REQUIRED CONSIDERABLE TIME TO COMPLETE, SUCH AS CONVERSION OF LIQUID GAS CONTAINER VALVES ΤΟ PIN-INDEX OUTLETS, ORDERING OF SUITABLE EQUIPMENT

HOSPITALS FIT PIN-INDEX VALVES ON MEDICAL GAS CONTAINERS.

FOR

TO

BY

ΤΟ

HKO'S

MR CHOW SAID ALL IMPROVEMENTS WERE EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED WOULD CONTINUE SUMMER NEXT YEAR AND THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT MONITOR CLOSELY THE PROGRESS THROUGH REGULAR LIAISON WITH MANAGEMENT, INSPECTIONS BY FSD STAFF TEMPORARILY BASED AT HKO'S PRODUCTION PLANT AND SPOT CHECKS ON DISTRIBUTION, DELIVERY AND STORAGE OF MEDICAL GASES.

"THE FIRE SERVIES DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO IMPOSED ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS IN THE LICENCE GRANTED TO HKO UNDER THE DANGEROUS GOODS ORDINANCE, AS WELL AS REVIEWING THEIR LICENCE ON A SIX-MONTHLY BASIS.

"FURTHERMORE, THE HKO HAS ALSO VOLUNTARILY TAKEN ACTION то ENHANCE ITS MANAGEMENT CONTROL

EMPLOYING SUITABLE

ΤΟ PERSONNEL

THE SUPERVISE

PRODUCTION AND HANDLING OF MEDICAL GASES AND ΤΟ INTRODUCE ADDITIONAL SECURITY IN DELIVERY BY ADOPTING A BAR CODE SYSTEM.

BY

HE

"ALSO, A NEW TYPE OF TAMPER-PROOF VALVE SEAL FOR PIN-INDEX MEDICAL GAS CYLINDERS WOULD BE INTRODUCED BY

NEXT YEAR,"

SAID.

SUMMER

CRIMES (TORTURE) BILL 1991 TO BE GAZETTED

THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A BILL WHICH SEEKS TO GIVE EFFECT TO PROVISIONS OF THE UNITED NATIONS CONVENTION AGAINST TORTURE, INHUMAN AND DEGRADING TREATMENT OR PUNISHMENT.

ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (THURSDAY), A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT ALL PHYSICAL ACTS WHICH WOULD BE CLASSIFIED AS TORTURE UNDER THE CONVENTION WERE ALREADY OFFENCES UNDER EXISTING HONG KONG LAW.

INCIDENTS OF SUSPECTED TORTURE WERE RARE.

**MENTAL TORTURE" SUCH AS SUBJECTING THE VICTIMS TO EXTREME HORROR IS, HOWEVER, NOT ADEQUATELY COVERED BY EXISTING LEGISLATION.

"IN VIEW OF THE NATURE OF TORTURE AS A PARTICULARLY SERIOUS VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS STRICTLY CONDEMNED BY INTERNATIONAL LAW WE INTEND TO CREATE THE OFFENCE OF TORTURE TO COVER ALL ACTS OF TORTURE AS DEFINED IN THE CONVENTION," HE SAID.

THE BILL WILL ALSO PROVIDE LEGAL CHANNELS FOR THE EXTRADITION OF TORTURERS AND SUSPECTED TORTURERS.

/"IN DRAFTING