XN000022-1995-03-17 — Page 11

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Australian MP briefed on shipping matters

The Marine Department has set an annual target for 1995 for Port State Control inspections on ship at four per cent and it aims to gradually increase the level to 15 per cent by the year 2000, the Director of Marine, Mr Ian Dale, told an Australian Member of Parliament, Mr Peter Morris, this (Friday) morning.

Mr Morris, Chairman of the Australian House of Representatives Standing Committee on Transport, Communications and Infrastructure, is on a two-day visit in Hong Kong.

He met Mr Dale and senior officials of the Marine Department this morning and was briefed on the ship and crew safety issues including Hong Kong's participation in the Tokyo Memorandum, living conditions and welfare of seafarers.

Mr Morris also called on the Secretary for Economic Services, Mr Gordon Siu, later in the morning.

He will visit the Seamen's Training Centre in Tai Lam tomorrow.

End/Friday, March 17, 1995

New computerised drug information hotline

Members of the public can now obtain information on commonly used drugs through a computerised hotline introduced by the Department of Health.

The hotline 2836 3880 provides recorded messages on drug information round the clock.

Speaking at a press conference to launch the hotline today (Friday), Assistant Director of Health, Dr Chan Wai-man, said: "Information on 11 types of commonly used drugs for the treatment of diseases and their side-effects will be provided in Cantonese."

"This hotline service is part of the department's effort to promote primary health care and health education, and to remind the public of the importance of proper use of drugs," Dr Chan said.