XN000022-1992-06-03 — Page 21

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 1992

EVENING CLINICS CLOSED FOR PATIENTS SAFETY

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OR

SAFETY OF PATIENTS IS THE KEY CONSIDERATION WHEN DECIDING WHETHER EVENING PUBLIC CLINICS SHOULD BE CLOSED DURING RAINSTORMS OTHER NATURAL DISASTERS, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MRS

NORMALLY, GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINICS WERE CLOSED ON THE HOISTING OF NO. 8 TYPHOON SIGNAL AND IN INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS.

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON YEUNG SUM, MRS WONG EXPLAINED THAT THE SUSPENSION OF THE EVENING OUT-PATIENT SERVICE AT ABERDEEN JOCKEY CLUB CLINIC ON MAY 8 THIS YEAR WAS DUE TO EXTREMELY INCLEMENT WEATHER AND SEVERE THUNDERSTORM.

"EVEN DURING THE DAY, ATTENDANCE WAS BARELY HALF THE USUAL NUMBERS, SHE SAID.

H

"ALL 19 EVENING GENERAL OUT-PATIENT CLINICS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WERE SUSPENDED THAT EVENING.

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SHE NOTED THAT THE ARRANGEMENT WAS ANNOUNCED THROUGH RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCASTS AND BY NOTICES AT CLINICS.

PATIENTS REQUIRING EMERGENCY TREATMENT HAVE RECOURSE то THE ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT IN HOSPITALS, SHE ADDED.

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COMPLAINTS AGAINST VESSEL NOISE

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THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED 50 COMPLAINTS OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS OF RESIDENTIAL PREMISES AFFECTED BY NOISE ASSOCIATED WITH THE OPERATION OF VESSELS AT PUBLIC CARGO HANDLING SITES AND COMMERCIAL PIERS.

THE FIGURE WAS REVEALED BY THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY EASON, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LEE WING-TAT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HAS ALSO RECEIVED THREE MORE ASSOCIATED WITH VESSELS BERTHING AT COMMERCIAL PIERS.

COMPLAINTS

OF THESE 53 COMPLAINTS, 33 HAVE BEEN REFERRED TO THE POLICE FOR ENFORCEMENT UNDER THE NOISE CONTROL ORDINANCE.

THE POLICE INITIATED PROSECUTION IN THREE OF THESE CASES, AND ISSUED VERBAL WARNINGS FOR THE OTHERS.

/ON THE