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Secretary for Education and Manpower:- It is always very difficult
to be satisfied in any area of safety. I think probably myself that
I think the Commissioner for Labour would concur with this view,
that probably at the moment the biggest defect as it were is perhaps
supervision on the site and Members would probably like to be aware that
I am proposing to bring to this Council in the next two or three months
Safety Officers Regulations to bring in safety officers and safety
supervisors on construction sites. I am sure this will make a substantial
difference in the long run.
Mr. Chung:- Mr. Chairman, on the actual execution, will Government send
Labour Inspectors to inspect all construction sites and I stress all
construction sites. If this is the case, could this Council be informed
of the frequency of such visits and how many Labour Inspectors there are
with the special responsibility of visiting construction sites with a view
to checking on the safety of workers?
Secretary for Education and Manpower:- It would certainly be an impossible
task to have Inspectors on all construction sites at all time I think
and of course this is one of the reasons that safety should be built into
the method of work by the construction companies and contractors. I havent't
got it with me, but I will write to the Member on the question of what
the current frequency is but it isn't always easy because construction
sites moved round a great deal and although contractors are by law
required to inform the Labour Department of all sites it may take some time
to get round to them all.