or discussion
23rd September 1980
LAST PAPER
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24 SEP1980
XCR (80)219 Copy No.
32
MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
I Awasla
Dangerous Goods Ordinance
(Chapter 245)
DANGEROUS GOODS (GENERAL) (AMENDMENT)
(NO 3) REGULATIONS 1980
Pr
Annexed for the consideration of Members are the Dangerous Goods (General) (Amendment) (No 3) Regulations 1980.
Background
2
In 1974 Part XIA was added to the Dangerous Goods (General) Regulations to regulate the storage and movement within container terminals of freight containers carrying dangerous goods. This was in response to the opening of new container terminals at Kwai Chung. Experience in administering these regulations has shown that they are unnecessarily restrictive and the Dangerous Goods Standing Committee has advised that they may be relaxed without increasing the threat to public safety.
3
The Standing Committee has noted that the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation (IMCO) which is currently drafting proposals on the storage of Dangerous Goods within port areas, supports the view that for a very wide range of dangerous goods there is no need to limit the time they remain in port since, when stored under proper circumstances the hazard is not a developing one, in that it does not get worse day by day. The Standing Committee agrees with this view.
Proposals
4
It is now proposed that the principal regulations should be relaxed with regard to the storage at container terminals of dangerous goods in freight containers. The Dangerous Goods (General) (Amend- ment) (No 3) Regulations 1980 annexed give effect to these proposals. In addition it is proposed that container terminal operators should be required to maintain a detailed record of dangerous goods passing through the terminals which would assist in the enforcement of the regulations.
G.S. 84
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