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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1976
INDUSTRIAL TRAINING (CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976
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CONSTRUCTION WORKS VALUED AT LESS THAN $250,000 WILL NO LONGER HAVE TO BE NOTIFIED TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY IF AN AMENDMENT BILL IS APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. IAN PRICE, IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING (CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) SAID EXPERIENCE HAD PROVED THAT THIS REQUIREMENT HAD PLACED A HEAVY AND UNNECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE BURDEN ON CONTRACTORS, AUTHORISED PERSONS AND THE TRAINING AUTHORITY.
MR. PRICE POINTED OUT THAT UNDER THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING (CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY) ORDINANCE A LEVY WAS IMPOSED ON THE VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORKS UNDERTAKEN IN HONG KONG TO FINANCE THE ACTIVITIES OF THE TRAINING AUTHORITY.
HOWEVER, SUBSEQUENT AMENDING LEGISLATION PRESCRIBED THAT CONSTRUCTION WORKS OF LESS THAN $250,000 WERE NOT LIABLE TO LEVY BUT REQUIRED THE CONTRACTOR AND AUTHORISED PERSON RESPONSIBLE TO NOTIFY THE TRAINING AUTHORITY OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE WORKS AS WELL AS PAYMENTS RECEIVED IN RESPECT OF THEM.
MR. PRICE SAID THE ORDINANCE CONTAINED A PROVISION OF +REASONABLE EXCUSE TO PROTECT THE CONTRACTOR OR AUTHORISED PERSON WHO MIGHT HAVE GOOD REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE ESTIMATED VALUE WOULD BE LESS THAN $250,000 AND THEREFORE DID NOT GIVE NOTICE TO THE AUTHORITY.
HOWEVER, IF THE FINAL VALUE OF THE WORKS EVENTUALLY REQUIRED THE PAYMENT OF THE LEVY, THE TRAINING AUTHORITY COULD ASSESS THE AMOUNT OF LEVY DUE FROM THE CONTRACTOR.
MR. PRICE SAID THAT, THROUGH AN ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN THE TRAINING AUTHORITY AND THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, THE TRAINING AUTHORITY IS PROVIDED WITH INFORMATION ON THE FINAL VALUE OF ALL CONSTRUCTION WORKS.
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