XN000022-1992-01-15 — Page 21

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1992

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STUDY ON GAS SAFETY UNDERWAY

THE DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES, WHO IS THE GAS AUTHORITY, IS CONDUCTING A DETAILED STUDY OF THE FULL RECORD OF THE CORONER'S REPORT, INCLUDING THE SUGGESTIONS FOR THE INCLUSION OF A BILINGUAL WARNING LABEL AND RESTRICTIONS ON THE SALE OF REFILL CANISTERS.

THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, INFORMED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON GILBERT LEUNG THAT THE DIRECTOR WOULD MAKE HIS RECOMMENDATIONS AFTER CONSULTING THE GAS SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE.

AT THE CONCLUSION IN NOVEMBER LAST YEAR OF AN ENQUIRY INTO THE DEATH OF THE 13-YEAR-OLD BOY WHO HAD DIED AS A RESULT OF SNIFFING LIGHTER FUEL, THE CORONER'S COURT SUGGESTED THAT CANISTERS OF LIGHTER FUEL SHOULD BEAR A LABEL, BOTH IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE AND IN CLEAR AND BOLD WORDS, ON THE DANGERS OF ABUSE, POINTING OUT THAT IT COULD BE FATAL AND SHOULD BE KEPT AWAY FROM CHILDREN.

THE COURT ALSO SUGGESTED THAT THE SALE OF CANISTERS OF LIGHTER FUEL SHOULD BE RESTRICTED.

MR ASPREY SAID ACCORDING TO INFORMATION RECEIVED BY THE GOVERNMENT'S CENTRAL REGISTRY OF DRUG ABUSE FROM A WIDE RANGE OF REPORTING AGENCIES, NO

OF ABUSE OF LIGHTER FUEL GAS WERE

REPORTED IN 1989; TWO CASES WERE REPORTED IN 1990.

APART FROM THE CASE REFERRED TO IN THE QUESTION, NO OTHER CASES WERE REPORTED IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS OF LAST YEAR.

"A TOTAL OF NINETEEN CASES OF ABUSE OF OTHER ORGANIC SOLVENTS, ALL OF THEM INVOLVING THE SUBSTANCE COMMONLY KNOWN AS THINNER, WERE REPORTED IN THE PAST THREE YEARS," HE SAID.

ALL 22 KNOWN SOLVENT ABUSE CASES IN THE LAST THREE YEARS INVOLVED YOUNG PEOPLE UNDER THE AGE OF 21. MOST WERE REPORTED BY OUTREACH SOCIAL WORKERS, HE ADDED.

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HE SAID ALTHOUGH THE ABUSE OF SOLVENTS IS LOW, BOTH THE GOVERNMENT AND THE ACTION COMMITTEE AGAINST NARCOTICS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THE PROBLEM.

"WE PUBLICISE THE DANGERS OF THIS FORM OF ABUSE THROUGH DRUG EDUCATION TALKS GIVEN TO SECONDARY SCHOOL CHILDREN (WHICH ARE BEING EXTENDED TO PRIMARY 6 STUDENTS NEXT YEAR) AND DISPLAYS AT ANTI-DRUG EXHIBITIONS, CARNIVALS AND OTHER PUBLICITY EVENTS AND FUNCTIONS," MR

ASPREY SAID.

HE SAID ORGANIC SOLVENTS, INCLUDING LIGHTER FUEL GAS, WERE ALSO INCLUDED AS COMMON DRUGS OF ABUSE ON A POSTER RECENTLY PUT ON PUBLIC DISPLAY.

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