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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1986
THIS POINT, HE EXPLAINED, HAD BEEN CONSIDERED WHEN THE REGULATIONS WERE BEING DRAFTED. BUT IT WAS NOT NECESSARY TO MAKE A SPECIFIC PROVISION FOR THIS SITUATION BECAUSE THE EMPLOYEES, APART FROM RENDERING THEMSELVES LIABLE TO DISMISSAL BY THE EMPLOYERS, WOULD ALSO BE LIABLE TO PROSECUTION UNER REGULATION 21 OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNERTAKING REGULATIONS.
MR HENDERSON SAID THAT AUGUST 1 HAD BEEN SET FOR THE COMING INTO OPERATION OF THE REGULATIONS TO GIVE TIME FOR PROPRIETORS TO INSTALL EXHAUST VENTILATION SYSTEMS OR ACQUIRE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT.
MEANWHILE, A GUIDE TO THE REGULATIONS WOULD BE PUBLISHED AND A PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN WOULD BE LAUNCHED.
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, HE SAID, HAD ALREADY PUBLISHED A CODE OF PRACTICE ON THE CONTROL OF ASBESTOS AT WORK, PROVIDING GUIDELINES AND TECHNICAL ADVICE FOR EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS TO PREVENT ASBESTOS HAZARDS.
PUBLICITY ON ASBESTOS HAZARDS URGED *****
A SUSTAINED EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLICITY PROGRAMME TO HEIGHTEN AWARENESS+ OF ASBESTOS HAZARDS AMONG WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS SHOULD BE MOUNTED TO MAXIMISE THE EFFECT OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (ASBESTOS) SPECIAL REGULATIONS 1986.
THE SUGGESTION WAS MADE BY DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI WHEN SUPPORTING THE MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF THE REGULATIONS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
THE REGULATIONS, HE SAID, WOULD HELP TO PROTECT THE HEALTH OF INDUSTRIAL WORKERS AGAINST' INHALATION OF HARMFUL ASBESTOS DUST AND FIBRES,
*THE PROVISIONS IN THESE REGULATIONS HAVE BEEN SO DRAFTED AS TO TAKE CARE OF MOST OF THE WORRIES OF THOSE WORKERS BEING ENGAGED IN ASBESTOS PROCESSES.
+THEREFORE 1 CONSIDER THEM TO BE A GOOD PIECE OF PREVENTIVE LEGISLATION WORTHY OF OUR SUPPORT,+ HE SAID.
DR HO SAID HE WAS GLAD TO NOTE THAT HIS CONCERN THAT WORKERS MIGHT NOT USE THE PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING PROVIDED BY THE EMPLOYER HAD BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THE DELIBERATIONS ON THE REGULATIONS AND WAS SATISFACTORILY RESOLVED BY REGULATION 21.
HOWEVER, TO MAXIMISE THE EFFECT OF THESE REGULATIONS, HE SUGGESTED THAT A SUSTAINED EDUCATIONAL AND PUBLICITY PROGRAMME E MOUNTED BY THE GOVERNMENT AND THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.
/DR HO