WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1984
13
NEW SAFE GAS WATER HEATERS INTRODUCED
****
WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE SUPPLIERS OF GAS APPLIANCES, UNSAFE GAS WATER HEATERS ARE NO LONGER INSTALLED IN BATHROOMS, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON PETER WONG, MR JACOBS SAID THAT, IN ADDITION, A NEW RANGE OF SAFE REPLACEMENT APPLIANCES, SOME OF WHICH HAVE BEEN SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR USE IN HONG KONG, ARE BEING MADE AVAILABLE AND ACTIVELY PROMOTED.
MR WONG HAD ASKED THE GOVERNMENT TO REPORT ON THE PROGRESS MADE AS A RESULT OF THE APPOINTMENT OF A GAS ADVISER, THE REVISION OF RELEVANT LEGISLATION AND THE EXTENSIVE PUBLICITY ON GAS SAFETY.+
MR JACOBS ALSO SAID THAT SINCE THE GAS ADVISER'S APPOINTMENT IN 1982, MUCH PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POLICY IN RELATION TO THE SAFE USE OF GAS FUELS AND THE EXTENSION OF A PIPED GAS SUPPLY TO DOMESTIC CONSUMERS.
HE SAID HE WOULD SHORTLY BE SUBMITTING A DETAILED PROGRESS REPORT ON GAS SAFETY TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL.
WITH REGARD TO LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS, HE SAID THAT AGREEMENT HAD BEEN REACHED WITH THOSE INVOLVED IN THE GAS INDUSTRY ON A NUMBER OF SAFETY MEASURES IN RELATION TO THE FILLING, CHECKING,
TRANSPORTING AND SORTING OF THE CYLINDERS. AND, TRAINING PROGRAMMES WERE BEING DRAWN UP FOR OPERATORS AND DRIVERS HANDLING LPG CYLINDERS, AND FOR LPG ROAD TANKER DRIVERS.
REAFFIRMING GOVERNMENT'S CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFE USE OF GAS HEATERS, HE SAID THAT THE PUBLIC WERE CONTINUALLY BEING URGED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS BY ENSURING THAT THE IR BATHROOMS ARE ADEQUATELY VENTILATED WHEN GAS WATER HEATERS ARE USED.
WITH REGARD TO PIPED GAS, HE SAID IT IS THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY TO ENCOURAGE THE USE OF PIPED GAS IN DOMESTIC PREMISES.
HE SAID THAT THE GROWING DEMAND FOR TOWNGAS IS EXPECTED TO OUTSTRIP THE HONG KONG AND CHINA GAS COMPANY'S (GASCO) PRODUCTION CAPACITY AT ITS MA TAU WAI PLANT BY THE END OF 1986.
ACCORDINGLY A SECOND GAS PRODUCTION PLANT IS REQUIRED, AND TALKS ARE TAKING PLACE BETWEEN GASCO AND THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION ABOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A GAS PRODUCTION PLANT BEING LOCATED IN THE TAI PO INDUSTRIAL ESTATE.
RECOGNISING THE NEED FOR LEGISLATION IN GAS SAFETY. MR JACOBS SAID, AN AMENDMENT TO THE BUILDING (PLANNING) REGULATIONS WAS MADE IN APRIL LAST YEAR.
THE AMENDMENT PROVIDES THAT ALL NEW BUILDINGS BE CONSTRUCTED WITH SUFFICIENTLY LARGE APERTURES IN THE EXTERNAL WALLS OF BATHROOMS TO FACILITATE INSTALLATION OF SAFE GAS HEATERS.
/UNDER ACTIVE