WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1982
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MR GRIFFITHS SAID THAT, EXCEPT FOR THE MOST SERIOUS CRIMES, THE JUDGES USUALLY AWARD SENTENCES SUBSTANTIALLY LESS THAN THE MAXIMUM, RESERVING THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE FOR THE VERY WORST EXAMPLE OF ANY PARTICULAR CRIME.
+SO MAXIMUM PENALTIES OF LIFE' OR OF '14 YEARS IMPRISONMENT' ARE CLEAR INDICATIONS FROM THE LEGISLATURE TO THE JUDICIARY OF THE RELATIVE SERIOUSNESS WITH WHICH SOCIETY VIEWS VARIOUS MAJOR CRIMES,+ HE SAID.
MR GRIFFITHS SAID IT WAS HOPED THAT THOSE EVIL MEN WHO ARE TEMPTED TO INDULGE IN THE WICKED OFFENCE WILL NOW BE DETERRED BY THE REALISATION OF THE NEW AND MORE SEVERE PUNISHMENT THAT IS NOW IN STORE FOR THEM ONCE THE BILL IS ENACTED+.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
REGULATIONS TO PROTECT WORKERS' HEARING APPROVED
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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED AMENDING REGULATIONS AIMED AT PROTECTING WORKERS' HEARING.
THE REGULATIONS, KNOWN AS THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1982, WILL COME INTO OPERATION ON DECEMBER 1 THIS YEAR, TO GIVE PROPRIETORS SUFFICIENT TIME TO ACQUIRE EAR PROTECTORS AND TO PERSUADE THEIR EMPLOYEES TO USE THEM,
IN TABLING THE REGULATIONS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, THE ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, DR THE HON JAMES HAYES SAID THAT THE REGULATIONS WERE PROPOSED, AS A FIRST STEP, TO REQUIRE THE PROPER MAINTENANCE OF MACHINERY AND PLANT TO MINIMISE NOISE AND THE PROVISION AND WEARING OF HEARING PROTECTORS BY WORKERS EXPOSED TO A SOUND LEVEL OF 90 DB(A) OR HIGHER FOR A CONTINUOUS PERIOD OF EIGHT HOURS ON ANY ONE DAY.
HE SAID THAT THE REGULATIONS WERE BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS BY AN INDUSTRIAL NOISE CONSULTANT INVITED TO HONG KONG IN 1979 TO ASSESS THE INDUSTRIAL NOISE PROBLEM AND TO ADVISE GOVERNMENT ON MEANS TO PROTECT THE HEARING OF WORKERS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE INDUSTRIAL NOISE.
DR HAYES SAID THAT, IN HIS REPORT, THE CONSULTANT ADVISED THAT IN ORDER TO CARRY OUT A PROPER HEARING CONSERVATION PROGRAMME FOR WORKERS IN INDUSTRY IT WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR HONG KONG TO HAVE A SET OF HEARING PROTECTION LEGISLATION. AS AND WHEN REQUIRED, THIS COULD BE USED TO PROTECT WORKERS FROM EXCESSIVE NOISE EXPOSURE.
THE CONSULTANT FURTHER RECOMMENDED THAT PROTECTION OF HEARING WAS NECESSARY IN EVERY INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKING WHERE, ON ANY DAY, ANY PERSON WAS EXPOSED CONTINUOUSLY FOR EIGHT HOURS TO A SOUND LEVEL EXCEEDING 90 DB(A) OR WAS SUBJECT TO AN EQUIVALENT OR GREATER EXPOSURE TO SOUND.
THE CONSULTANT