TVB Pearl 730 News Report, 14th January, 2011.

News 1
A warning about the inappropriate use of hand warmers
Having a hand warmer in the pocket may sound like a good idea on a cold day. But
the Consumer Council says one such type of warmer, which uses lighter fuel, could
cause burns or poisoning. The watchdog has also received reports of people
mistaking the content of the warmers for drinks.

Carbon monoxide poisoning and serious burns

The warmer works by heating one end of the device to bring up the temperature. But
if this is done in a confined space like a car, the lack of ventilation may result in
carbon monoxide poisoning. The top part of the warmer may reach more than 100
degrees Celsius and cause serious burns if it comes into direct contact with the skin.
The content is actually iron powder, activated charcoal, salt and vermiculite.
Swallowing a small amount is unlikely to result in severe poisoning, but it can burn
the mouth and the gut. As for disposable hand warmers, the Consumer Council said
the Hospital Authority received eight reports of elderly people ingesting the content
between 2006 and 2009.

Like instant coffee and tea powder

Since some disposables are similar in size and appearance to drink sachets, like those
instant coffee and tea powder, they should be kept properly and out of reach of
children and elderly people.

Comments and applications

Educating people to put hand warmers in bags
The warmer can reach more than 100 degrees Celsius and cause serious burns if it
comes into direct contact with the skin. Together with the trend that hand warmers
have been widely used by Hong Kong citizens, it is very likely for people to have burn
inquiries because of that. Therefore, it is the responsibility for the government to
educate people the proper use of hand warmers. One of such should be educating
them to put the hand warmers in bags. If such a suggestion is accepted by the
government, there will be an opportunity for businessmen to widely produce hand
warmers bags, which is now not very popular.

Appropriate warning labels

The product suppliers should also provide appropriate warning labels on the metal
case of the liquid fuel hand warmers. Due to the complicated operation procedure
involved in activating the hand warmer, children and elderly people are advised not
to use it on their own.

News 2
Lawmakers turned down a funding request from the government to host Asian
Game
Lawmakers rejected the funding proposal in the Legco Finance Committee a short
while ago. Hosting the Games could have cost taxpayers at least 6 billion dollars.
Many lawmakers say Hong Kong simply isn’t ready to host a mega-event like this.
A last-ditch effort by Secretary for Home Affairs Tsang Tak-sing to drum up support
for a possible bid by Hong Kong to host the 2023 Asian Games. The opponents said
that we all know that the 6 billion dollars will not be able to cover the total cost for
the staging for the Asian Games.

Comments and applications

The supporters may say spending 6 billion dollars and hosting the mega-event would
do Hong Kong a lot of good. This can become and economic drive for Hong Kong.
Looking at it from a broader perspective, 6 billion dollars is only a small part of our
government’s assets, but it can create a lot of jobs and it can help a lot of families.

However, I thinking hosting the Games, there will be unlimited commitment. It’s like
giving like a band check. Hong Kong hasn’t got prepared. We haven’t got the
necessary conditions ready. And we have to get the hardware and the venues ready.

In addition, to drive development of sports in Hong Kong, Hong Kong government

must come up with a long-term policy to encourage people to develop a career in
sports, instead of just through hosting a mega-event.