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A CODE OF PRACTICE GOVERNING THE IMPORTATION, STORAGE,
TRANSPORTATION AND USE OF TOXIC GASES IN THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY,
INCLUDING ARSINE, WAS INTRODUCED IN HONG KONG IN 1981.
3. IN JULY 1981 THE C FOR L ANSWERED A QUESTION IN LEGCO ON THE HEALTH HAZARDS POSED TO WORKERS IN THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY, THOUGH THE QUESTION WAS APPLICABLE GENERALLY TO THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY AND DID NOT SPECIFY CARCINOGENS. A COPY OF THE QUESTION AND HIS REPLY IS IN M.I.F.T.
THE USE OF HARMFUL SUBSTANCES, INCLUDING CARCINOGENIC CHEMICALS, MAY BE PROHIBITED OR CONTROLLED IF NECESSARY UNDER SECTION 7(2)(A)(11) OF THE F AND IU ORDINANCE. ALSO, SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS IN
THE USE OF SUCH SUBSTANCES MAY BE REQUIRED UNDER SECTION 7(4) OF THE F AND IU ORDINANCE. REGULATION 33 OF THE F AND IU REGULATIONS REQUIRES THAT ALL HARMFUL SUBSTANCES, WHETHER CARCINOGENIC OR OTHERWISE MUST BE REMOVED FROM A WORKPLACE BY ADEQUATE VENTILATION.
THE AIM OF THIS REGULATION IS TO PREVENT INHALATION, THE MAIN MODE OF ENTRY INTO PERSONS OF HARMFUL SUBSTANCES. WHEN NECESSARY THIS IS SUPPLEMENTED BY A REQUIREMENT FOR THE PROPRIETOR TO PROVIDE SUITABLE PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR THE WORKERS,
4. THE DECLARED GOALS OF THE ASIA MONITOR CENTRE AS REGARDS OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH ARE:
(A) TO CALL ATTENTION TO THE GROWING PROBLEM OF EXPOSURE TO DANGEROUS CHEMICALS, PARTICULARLY IN THE AGRICULTURAL, ELECTRONICS AND PHARMACEUTICAL SECTORS,
(B) TO PLACE THE PROBLEM IN THE CONTEXT OF THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ORDER, AND
(C) TO ASSIST ACTION-ORIENTED ASIAN GROUPS AND INDIVIDUALS IN EDUCATING ABOUT AND ORGANISING AROUND THE ISSUES OF CHEMICAL HAZARDS AND CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITY AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.
THE AMC HAS STATED THE VIEW THAT AS LONG AS THERE IS A PROLIFERATION OF CHEMICAL PRODUCTS ON THIS PLANET, THERE WILL BE A
CORRESPONDING AMOUNT OF ILLNESS AND DEATH ASSOCIATED WITH IT.
MR. GASSERT OF THE AMC HAS CONTACTED THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ON TWO OCCASIONS TO TALK ABOUT THE HEALTH OF WORKERS IN THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY BUT THE AMC HAS NOT (UNDERLINED) SUBMITTED ANY WRITTEN REPORT OR RECOMMENDATIONS ON THE SUBJECT TO THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT FOR CONSIDERATION.
THE
5. WITH REFERENCE TO THE LIST OF SUBSTANCES PROVIDED IN PARA. 1 OF YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 115 OF 22 FEBRUARY, THE SUBSTANCES BANNED IN THE U.K. UNDER THE HEALTH AND SAFETY ACT AND CARCINOGENIC SUBSTANCES REGULATIONS ARE USED MAINLY IN THE MANUFACTURING OF DYES. WE HAVE NOT COME ACROSS ANY CASES WHERE SUCH SUBSTANCES HAVE BEEN USED BY THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG.
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