TNAG-1609-FCO40-22131-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 46

WRITTEN ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

of walkman-type radios and cassette recorder

Jise of

WRT EN REPLY BY THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH & WE FARE

TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. POON CHI FAI LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON WEDNESDAY, 25 NOVEMBER 1987

9. Mr. POON Chi-fai asked:

In view of the popularity of walkman-type (ear-phone) radios/casette tape players, will Government inform this Council whether

(a) it will conduct any study to ascertain the

effect of prolonged listening to these gadgets on the users, such as the possibility of weakening or loss of hearing;

(b)

traffic accidents will occur as a result of drivers or pedestrians being distracted whilst attentively listening to these musical equipment;

(c) any publicity will be given on their proper

use; and

(a)

the manufacturers or the importers will be requested to enclose in these products a description of their proper use?

SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE:

Sir,

The answers to the four questions, in the order they

were asked, are :

(a)

there is at present no plan to study the effect

of prolonged listening to Walkman-type

radios and cassette tape players on hearing, as

there is no known case of serious damage to

hearing being caused in this way.