WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1985
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MOST SUITABLE FORM OF ELDERLY HOMES CONTROL SOUGHT
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THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT IS CONSULTING OTHER DEPARTMENTS AND WILL TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHER COUNTRIES BEFORE MAKING PROPOSALS ON THE MOST SUITABLE FORM OF CONTROL FOR PRIVATE HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HUI YIN-FAT, MR CHAMBERS SAID THE SOCIAL WELFARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAD DISCUSSED THE MATTER LAST SEPTEMBER AND HAD ADVISED THAT THERE WAS NO COMPELL ING REASON TO ENACT LEGISLATION TO CONTROL THEM, ALTHOUGH SOME FORM OF CONTROL MIGHT BE NECESSARY IN THE LONGER TERM TO ENSURE ADEQUATE STANDARDS OF SERVICE, PARTICULARLY IN CONNECTION WITH SAFETY AND HEALTH.
+ IN THE MEANTIME THE DEPARTMENT WILL CONTINUE TO PAY LIAISON VISITS TO THESE HOMES TO OFFER ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE TO OPERATORS AND RESIDENTS WHERE NECESSARY, HE SAID.
+ THE DEPARTMENT IS NOW ALSO PREPARING A CODE OF PRACTICE TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE ON HOW THESE HOMES SHOULD BE RUN, HE ADDED.
REGISTRATION OF ALL ENGINEERS BEING CONSIDERED
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A WORKING PARTY SET UP TO STUDY THE REGISTRATION OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL ENGINEERS WAS ALSO CONSIDERING THE REGISTRATION OF OTHER TYPES OF ENGINEERS, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON NICKY CHAN, SAID TODAY.
ANSWERING A QUESTION BY THE HON CHENG HON-KWAN, MR CHAN SAID THE WORKING PARTY, SET UP AT THE END OF 1984, WAS CHAIRED BY THE DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES AND INCLUDED REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL CONTRACTORS' ASSOCIATION, THE HONG KONG INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS AND OTHER DEPARTMENTS.
IT HAD BEEN GIVEN THE TASK OF CONSIDERING THE ROLE OF ENGINEERS AND TECHNICIANS WORK ING ON BUILDINGS, ENGINEERING PROJECTS AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY EXAMINING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PRESENT LAWS, SYSTEMS OF REGISTRATION AND CONTROL OF SUCH ENGINEERS- AND CONSIDERING WHETHER A NEW REGISTRATION POLICY WAS REQUIRED.
/MR CHAN