19.
Reply:
Mr President,
(a)
(b)
The technical specifications for car phones approved for use in Hong Kong are issued by the Office of the Telecommunications Authority (OFTA). They are in line with international specifications adopted widely in other parts of the world.
There is no evidence in Hong Kong that signals emitted by car phones or mobile phones would affect a vehicle's operation. We will monitor the situation and maintain contact with both local and overseas agencies and research institutions to consider whether any control is needed in the future.
According to traffic accident records during the past 5 years, the number of accidents involving drivers using such phones is insignificant.
End
Severity of accident
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
Fatal
0
0
0
1
0
Serious
0
1
0
3
Slight
3
1
2
0
3
Total
3
2
3
1
6
(c)
(Total number of accidents per year: 15,000.)
For the public hospitals, the Hospital Authority developed guidelines in 1994 to prohibit the use of mobile phones and other radio frequency transmitting devices in hospitals. When the guidelines were first introduced, a publicity exercise was launched and an appeal made to members of the public to cooperate with the hospital management in switching off their mobile phones within the confines of hospital wards, clinical departments, operating theatres and intensive care units in order to avoid causing interference with electronic medical equipment in use. To inform patients and visitors of the restriction, posters and signs have been put up at the entrance of these areas requesting mobile phone users to switch off their phones before entering. Major private hospitals have also put up notices to request visitors and patients not to use mobile phones to avoid interference with hospital electronic equipment.
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