11
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 28, 1986
+1 FULLY SUPPORT THE CONCEPT OF REGISTRATION. IT IS TOTALLY CONSISTENT WITH GOVERNMENT'S POLICY OF SELF-REGULATION, HE SAID.
+ IF STANDARDS WERE LEGALLY ESTABLISHED AND WERE CONTROLLED AT A HIGH LEVEL BY PROFESSIONAL BODIES, THEN THE NEED FOR GOVERNMENT TO SPEND PUBLIC MONEY ON NON-PRODUCTIVE REGULATORY POLICING WOULD BE REDUCED.+
HOWEVER, HE SAID IMPROVING AND MAINTAINING STANDARDS WAS NOT EASY.
QUALIFYING STANDARDS NEEDED CONSTANT MONITORING, AND DISCIPLINING OF PROFESSIONALS WHO HAD FALLEN SHORT OF STANDARDS MUST BE EFFECTIVELY DONE AND, FOR THE CONFIDENCE OF THE PUBLIC, BE SEEN TO BE DONE.
STATUTORY REGISTRATION WAS ALSO A COMMON AIM OF THE ARCHITECTS' PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES IN OTHER DISCIPLINES SUCH AS ENGINEERING, SURVEYING AND TOWN PLANNING, MR BARNES NOTED.
+AS SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS IT IS MY AIM TO ENSURE THAT AS FAR AS POSSIBLE CONSISTENCY OF STANDARDS, QUALIFICATION AND DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES, FEES AND OTHER ADMINISTRATIVE ASPECTS OF REGISTRATION BE ACHIEVED FOR ALL DISCIPLINES,+ HE SAID.
+1 SAY CONSISTENCY, NOT IDENTITY, BUT EVEN THIS IS NOT AN EASY TASK, AND I FORESEE THE NEED FOR CONTINUAL COMMUNICATION AND CO-OPÉRATION BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE PROFESSIONAL BODIES TO ACHIEVE THIS.
+1 AM ALSO KEEN TO MAKE SURE THAT A +CLOSED SHOP+ SYSTEM IS AVOIDED.+
PROFESSIONALS OF WHATEVER BACKGROUND, PROVIDED THEY HAD HAD PROVEN EQUIVALENT TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE, SHOULD BE ELIGIBLE FOR REGISTRATION, HE SAID.
MR BARNES ALSO SAID AN ISSUE WHICH CONCERNED HIM WAS THAT THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE COVERED THE CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION OF BUILDINGS, BUT DID NOT DEAL WITH THE INTERVENING PERIOD.
HONG KONG HAD A MASSIVE BUILDING STOCK IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, MUCH OF IT DEVELOPED TO MAXIMUM POTENTIAL, THERE BY REMOVING ANY INCENTIVE FOR RE-DEVELOPMENT.
IT WAS NOT THEREFORE LIKELY TO BE REPLACED FOR A VERY LONG TIME, BUT UNFORTUNATELY WITH MULTIPLE OWNERSHIP MAINTENANCE WAS OFTEN NOT CARRIED OUT PROPERLY, HE SAID.
/APART FROM