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(d) An effective means to prevent building related illnesses is to ensure adequate ventilation; this is currently effected through legislation governing buildings and workplaces. In addition, the prohibition of smoking in public places under the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance can reduce the health impact of environmental tobacco smoke. As regards Legionnaires' Disease, preventive measures include a code of practice issued in December 1994 on the design, installation, operation and maintenance of air-monitoring and water systems, monitoring the occurrence of Legionnaire's Disease and investigating notified cases. Apart from information leaflets on the disease, a hotline has been set up by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department to handle public enquiries. A territory wide survey on cooling towers is also being carried out and will be completed by April this year. The data from this survey will assist in identifying the source of the disease in case of an outbreak.

(e) The need for longer term measures to improve indoor air quality will be assessed in the light of the findings of the consultancy study on indoor air pollution mentioned earlier. In the meantime, we propose to extend the statutory provisions governing ventilation in factories and industrial undertakings to office buildings. The proposed new legislation, which will cover matters such as ventilation and maintenance requirements, will be submitted to this Council later this year.

End

Use of tear gas

Following is a question by the Hon Margaret Ng and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Will the Government inform this Council:

(a) of the dates and locations when tear gas was used in Hong Kong in the last five years, together with the circumstances giving rise to such use and the quantity used on each occasion:

(b) whether there are any policies and guidelines governing the use of tear gas; if so, what the details are; and