WEDNESDAY, JULY 28, 1982
SYMPATHY OVER FUSED PLUGS
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FUSED PLUGS ARE DESIGNED TO PROTECT ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES FROM THE CONSEQUENCES OF OVERLOADING OR OF SHORT CIRCUITING, AND NOT TO PROVIDE PROTECTION AGAINST ELECTROCUTION.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON D.G. JEAFFRESON, TO QUESTION BY HON K.C. CHAN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
+IT IS TRUE THAT IN CERTAIN RATHER PRECISE AND LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES A BLOWN FUSE IN WHAT WAS A CORRECTLY FUSED PLUG MIGHT HAVE SAVED SOMEONE FROM ELECTROCUTION. BUT AS I UNDERSTAND IT THE CHANCES OF THIS HAPPENING ARE NOT VERY HIGH AND ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO JUSTIFY MAKING THE USE OF FUSED PLUGS COMPULSORY, + HE SAID.
AS FAR AS HE KNEW, FUSED PLUGS ARE USED EXTENSIVELY ONLY IN BRITAIN, AND NOWHERE WERE THEY COMPULSORY.
MR CHAN HAD ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER REQUIRING THE COMPULSORY USE OF FUSED PLUGS FOR ALL DOMESTIC AND INDUSTRIAL ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES TO MINIMISE THE RISK OF ELECTROCUTION BY ACCIDENT OR THROUGH FAULTY WIRES OR EQUIPMENT.
+NEVERTHELESS, WE SYMPATHISE WITH MY HONOURABLE FRIEND'S INTEREST IN SAFETY AND WE WILL CERTAINLY BEAR HIS SUGGESTION IN MIND,+ HE SAID,
PEAK TRAMWAY PERMIT FEE
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THE PEAK TRAMWAY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 WHICH SETS THE PERMIT FEE PAYABLE BY THE COMPANY FOR THE YEARS 1981 AND 1982 AT THE NOMINAL SUM OF $1 000 WAS READ A SECOND TIME IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT SAID THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL APPROVED AN INCREASE IN FARES ON THE PEAK TRAMWAY ON JUNE 4 THIS YEAR AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE BILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL.
HE SAID THE FARE SCALES APPROVED DEPENDED ON THE PERMIT FEE BEING SET AT A NOMINAL LEVEL IN ORDER TO ALLOW THE COMPANY TO MAKE A REASONABLE PROFIT WITHOUT RAISING FARES TO AN UNREASONABLY HIGH LEVEL.
DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.
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