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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 1984
MR CHAN SAID THAT INDIVIDUAL AIR-CONDITIONERS, SUCH AS THOSE COMMONLY INSTALLED IN WINDOW OPENINGS OR PURPOSE BUILT APERTURES, WERE CONSIDERED 'PLANT' RATHER THAN PART OF THE ACTUAL BUILDING AND, THEREFORE, DETAILS OF THEIR FIXING DID NOT HAVE TO BE SUBMITTED TO THE BUILDING AUTHORITY.
IF A COMPLAINT IS RECEIVED ABOUT AN AIR-CONDITIONER WHICH APPEARS TO BE FIXED IN A DANGEROUS MANNER, AND INSPECTION BEARS THIS OUT, THEN POLICE WILL CLEAR THE AREA BELOW UNTIL IT IS MADE SAFE, HE SAID.
THE PROBLEM OF FALLING AIR CONDITIONERS IS, AT PRESENT, MINIMAL, SAID MR CHAN, BUT UNDER THE SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE: +IF ANYTHING IS DROPPED OR ALLOWED TO FALL FROM A BUILDING TO THE DANGER OF ANY PERSON IN OR NEAR A PUBLIC PLACE, THE PERSON WHO DROPS THAT THING OR ALLOWS IT TO FALL COMMITS AN OFFENCE AND IS LIABLE TO A FINE OF $10 000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR SIX MONTHS.+
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+ IT IS IN THE OWNERS* INTEREST TO ENSURE THAT THEIR AIR- CONDITIONERS ARE SECURELY INSTALLED AND THAT THE FIXINGS ARE REGULARLY CHECKED AND MAINTAINED, HE SAID.
GARRISON'S ROLE EXPLAINED ****
THE PRIMARY ROLE OF THE ARMED SERVICES, OF WHICH THE GOVERNOR IS COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, IS TO ASSIST THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO MAINTAIN SECURITY AND STABILITY IN HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
ANSWERING A QUESTION FROM THE HON MR CHAN YING-LUN, HE SAID: +IN PRACTICE, THEY ASSUME THIS ROLE ACTIVELY ONLY WHEN THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ASKS THEM TO DO SO AND THEY WOULD THEN ACT IN SUPPORT OF THE POLICE AND THE OTHER CIVIL POWERS.
+THE IR OTHER MAIN TASK IS TO HELP THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE TO COMBAT ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION INTO HONG KONG. THEY ALSJ PLAY AN ACTIVE PART IN HELPING GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS IN COMMUNITY WORK, FOR EXAMPLE HILL FIRE FIGHTING, BUILDING BRIDGES IN VILLAGES AND WELFARE PROJECTS.+
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