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USE OF MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT AT CONSTRUCTION SITES
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THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL HAS APPROVED AN AMENDMENT TO THE SUMMARY OFFENCES (PERMITTED WORK) REGULATIONS TO STREAMLINE THE PROCEDURES AND PROCESSING OF ROUTINE APPLICATIONS FOR THE USE OF POWERED MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT AT CONSTRUCTION SITES OUTSIDE THE PERMITTED HOURS.
THE AMENDED REGULATIONS EXTEND THE AUTHORITY OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS TO ISSUE AND RENEW PERMITS FOR THE USE OF SUCH EQUIPMENT BETWEEN 7 PM AND 7 AM AND ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, FOR A TOTAL PERMIT DURATION NOT EXCEEDING 12 MONTHS.
AT PRESENT, THE DIRECTOR IS EMPOWERED TO ISSUE SUCH PERMITS FOR ANY INITIAL PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS, RENEWABLE FOR A FURTHER THREE MONTHS. SUBSEQUENT RENEWALS REQUIRE THE APPROVAL OF THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL.
MR. M.J. COCKERELL, PRINCIPAL ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OFFICER, NOISE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THE AMENDMENT WAS INTENDED TO STREAMLINE THE ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEM RELATING TO ROUTINE APPLICATIONS. IT IN NO WAY IMPLIED A RELAXATION OF THE GOVERNMENT'S CONTROL ON CONSTRUCTION SITE NOISE, HE SAID.
+NOISE NUISANCE WILL CONTINUE TO BE LIMITED BY THE IMPOSITION OF PERMIT CONDITIONS ON THE AMOUNT OF EQUIPMENT A CONTRACTOR WILL BE ALLOWED TO USE AS DETERMINED BY THE SITE CONDITIONS AND BACKGROUND NOISE, THE NATURE OF THE WORK AND THE PROXIMITY OF THOSE WHO MIGHT BE DISTURBED BY THE NOISE, HE STRESSED.
THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS HE ADDED, WAS ALSO EMPOWERED TO REVISE THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE PERMIT AT THE TIME OF RENEWAL TO TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ANY CHANGE IN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAY HAVE OCCURRED SINCE ITS ISSUE.
MR. COCKERELL SAID APPLICATIONS INVOLVING ISSUES OF SUBSTANTIAL IMPORTANCE AND POLICY CONSIDERATIONS, OR WORK INVOLVING PILING, WOULD CONTINUE TO BE DEALT WITH BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL.
ORIGIN CERTIFICATES NOT REQUIRED FOR HK'S EXPORTS
TO NEW ZEALAND UNDER PREFERENCE SCHEME
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THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCED TODAY (FRIDAY) THAT WITH EFFECT FROM NOVEMBER 16 THIS YEAR EXPORTS FROM HONG KONG TO NEW ZEALAND UNDER THE NEW ZEALAND GENERALISED SYSTEM OF PREFERENCES (NZ GSP) ARE NO LONGER REQUIRED TO BE SUPPORTED BY ENDORSED CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT OR THE FIVE AUTHORISED NON-GOVERNMENT CERTIFICATE-ISSUING ORGANISATIONS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT WELCOMED THE NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT'S MOVE TO WAIVE THIS REQUIREMENT WHICH ONLY APPLIES TO EXPORTS FROM HONG KONG, BUT NOT TO THOSE FROM THE OTHER BENEFICIARY COUNTRIES UNDER THE NZ GSP.
HE SAID THE MOVE WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY FACILITATE TRADE BETWEEN NEW ZEALAND AND HONG KONG.
THE SPOKESMAN