XN000022-1994-07-08 — Page 3

FRIDAY, JULY 8, 1994

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CHOLERA OUTBREAKS GIVEN PROPER ATTENTION

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THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, THIS (FRIDAY) MORNING SAID EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO CAUSE FOR ALARM, THE GOVERNMENT HAD TO GIVE THE RECENT CHOLERA OUTBREAKS PROPER ATTENTION.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER OPENING THE PO LEUNG KUK JOCKEY CLUB TAI TONG HOLIDAY CAMP, MR PATTEN SAID THERE WERE NOW 18 CONFIRMED CASES WHICH WAS MORE THAN THE YEARLY AVERAGE OF ABOUT 11 CASES IN HONG KONG.

NOW

"I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY REASON FOR ALARM AT THIS TIME. CHOLERA IS BOTH PREVENTABLE AND TREATABLE AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOT TO CONCENTRATE ON, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

"IN GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO THAT PROPER FOOD HYGIENE STANDARDS ARE MAINTAINED AND THE FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE IS CO-ORDINATING THE WORK BEING DONE

MAKE SURE SECRETARY

ON THAT.

"WE ARE, IN PARTICULAR, LOOKING AT THE WATER QUALITY STANDARDS IN THE FISH TANKS IN SOME OF OUR RESTAURANTS AND THAT'S BEING PURSUED AS VIGOROUSLY AS POSSIBLE.

r

TO

MR PATTEN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS GOING TO LOOK AT THE NEED MAKE THE QUALITY OF WATER IN TANKS IN RESTAURANTS ONE OF THE LICENSING CONDITIONS FOR RESTAURANTS.

"FOR

THE TIME BEING, THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO MAKE SURE THAT RESTAURANTS AREN'T TAKING WATER OUT OF THE HARBOUR OR OUT OF THE TYPHOON SHELTERS, HE SAID.

"I

"I THINK THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED THE TYPHOON SHELTERS AS BEING A PARTICULAR PROBLEM IN TERMS OF WATER QUALITY AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN THE VICINITY OF THOSE TYPHOON SHELTERS IS PROPERLY REGULATED AND CONTROLLED.

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THE GOVERNOR SAID THE RIGHT LONG-TERM SOLUTION WAS TO GET ON WITH THE PROGRAMME OF PROPER TREATMENT OF SEWAGE SO THAT THE WATERS AROUND HONG KONG WERE OF THE DESIRABLE ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY.

"I WANT TO ASSURE EVERYONE THAT THE GOVERNMENT IS ACTING ON THIS AS VIGOROUSLY AS WE CAN, HE ADDED.

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