XN000022-1993-03-31 — Page 49

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 31, 1993

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PUBLIC VIEWS SOUGHT ON SAHR PROCEDURES

THE GOVERNMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY) PUBLISHED THE CONSULTATION PAPER ON THE FINAL REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENTIFICALLY HUMAN REPRODUCTION (SAHR).

ASSISTED

TABLING THE DOCUMENT BEFORE THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, SAID SAHR WAS THE ASSISTANCE OF HUMAN CONCEPTION BY ARTIFICIAL MEANS, IN ORDER TO ALLEVIATE HUMAN INFERTILITY.

SINCE 1986,

WHEN THE FIRST BABY WAS BORN IN HONG KONG AS A RESULT OF IN-VITRO FERTILISATION, THE PRACTICE OF SAHR PROCEDURES DEVELOPED RAPIDLY AND ARE NO LONGER UNCOMMON.

HAS

AS SAHR PROCEDURES RAISE MANY WIDE-RANGING SOCIAL, MORAL, ETHICAL AND LEGAL CONCERNS AND CONTROVERSIES, MRS WONG SAID A COMMITTEE ON SCIENTIFICALLY ASSISTED HUMAN REPRODUCTION WAS APPOINTED IN 1987 TO LOOK INTO THE ISSUES INVOLVED.

THE COMMITTEE, CHAIRED BY DR LEONG CHE-HUNG, TOOK FIVE YEARS TO STUDY THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE SUBJECTS AND SUBMITTED ITS FINAL REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT LAST YEAR.

COMPLEX

MRS WONG NOTED THAT THE FINAL REPORT DISCUSSED THE ISSUES THOROUGHLY IN LAYMAN'S LANGUAGE AND MADE 22 WELL-PRESENTED RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH HAD PROFOUND AND FAR-REACHING IMPLICATIONS.

"I HAVE STUDIED THE FINAL REPORT CAREFULLY AND FROM THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL," SHE SAID.

SOUGHT ADVICE

"AS RIGHTLY POINTED OUT BY ONE EXPERT IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, THE CONCERN OVER THIS ISSUE MAINLY COMES FROM THE PUBLIC.

"GIVEN THE TIME IT HAS TAKEN FOR US TO COME THUS FAR AND THE IMPLICATIONS OF SAHR PROCEDURES, IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE COMMUNITY TO BE UPDATED ON THE ISSUES INVOLVED AND TO TAKE THE LEAD IN FORMING A VIEW ON

THE RECOMMENDATIONS BEFORE A PINAL DECISION IS TAKEN, SHE ADDED.

T

THE CONSULTATION PAPER SETS OUT BRIEFLY THE BACKGROUND AND ARGUMENTS ON SAHR PROCEDURES.

IT ALSO EXPLAINS THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS ON SAHR PROCEDURES FLOWING FROM THE PARENT AND CHILD ORDINANCE ENACTED EARLIER THIS MONTH.

WILL

COPIES OF THE CONSULTATION PAPER, IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE, BE SENT TO CONCERNED INDIVIDUALS AND BODIES IN THE MEDICAL, LEGAL, SOCIAL SERVICE AND RELIGIOUS FIELDS.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC MAY ALSO OBTAIN COPIES FROM VARIOUS DISTRICT OFFICES AND THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, SEVENTH FLOOR, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, MAIN WING, LOWER ALBERT ROAD.

VIEWS ON THE CONSULTATION PAPER SHOULD BE SENT TO THE HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH NO LATER THAN JUNE 30,

1993.

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