CHOPSTICKS ATTACKED

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30316, 17 December 1963, Page 7

CHOPSTICKS ATTACKED

Alleged To Spread Tb

HONG KONG,

The latest controversy in Hong Kong is on the relative merits of chopsticks and the knife and fork, from the point of view of hygiene. In a letter to an Englishlanguage newspaper, a former Sydney journalist, Mr Geoffrey Powell, who does some work for Radio Hong Kong, said that one of the world’s leading thoracic physicians had told him that the use of chopsticks was the greatest cause of the spread of tuberculosis in this part of the world. Mr Powell asked whether it was not better to be burned on the tongue by a silver spoon than have a lung infected by tubercular bacillus as a result of using chopsticks. He drew a number of replies defending chopsticks and condemning forks, in particular, as unhygienic. So far, however, no-one has mentioned the potential risk of infection resulting from the Chinese habit of dipping chopsticks into common bowls of food placed in the centre of circular tables, and sharing common sauce dishes at home and in restaurants. Most chopsticks these days are made of easily-cleaned plastic. But only one pair a meal is used and is dipped into all the communal dishes.

Minister Ill.—The Australian Minister for Defence, Mr Athol Townley, is still seriously ill in Melbourne. He is reported to be suffering from a relapse of a heart condition which kept him from his duties for several months earlier this year.—Canberra, Dec. 16.