6.
5.
informed by the Home Office that it is now proposed
to insert clauses in the New Factories Bill
to be laid before Parliament before the end of this
year, calling for the periodical examination of all
gasholders by a competent person as is done in the
case of steam boilers. At certain periods the state
of the internal surfaces must be ascertained (no
particular method to be specified) and a certificate
signed by the competent person should be available for
inspection. As the Bill will not be published for several
weeks yet I have requested the Colonial Office to inform me
if possible of the exact terms in which these clauses are
being drawn up. I have been given to understand by
Mr. Pollard that the periods to be suggested will not be
more stringent than those specified in the Hong Kong Bill
and the initial intemal inspection may be when the holder
is twenty years old.
In consideration of the facts outlined above it is
suggested that the Regulations made under the Hong
Kong Draft Bill be amended keeping somewhat in line
with the steps the Home Office propose to take,
but making provision for the more severe climatic
conditions to which holders are subjected locally.
Regulation may be amended to require an external
inspection annually by a competent person. Where
actual perforation of the sheets has taken place
a thorough examination shall be made by a competent
person to ascertain if this perforation is due to
general wastage.
Regulation 4. may read, At least once in every
five years a thorough examination shall be made by
a competent person to discover the condition of the
internal surfaces of the sheeting of every gasholder in
the Colony which has been installed for more than ten years.