TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1993
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NO MAJOR CHANGES IN ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENT BETWEEN GOVT AND HOUSING AUTHORITY
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COMMENTING ON PRESS REPORTS SPECULATING THAT THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WOULD COME UNDER THE PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS BRANCH, THE SECRETARY FOR PLANNING, ENVIRONMENT AND LANDS, MR TONY BASON TODAY (TUESDAY) SAID THERE WERE NO PROPOSALS FOR ANY MAJOR CHANGE CONCERNING THE GOVERNMENT'S ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS WITH THE HOUSING AUTHORITY.
"AS I STAND UP IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ON HOUSING, IT WOULD BE NATURAL THAT THERE SHOULD BE CLOSER AND SLIGHTLY WIDER RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT, THE HOUSING AUTHORITY AND MY BRANCH, HE SAID.
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"BUT THIS SHOULD NOT BE INTERPRETED AS INDICATING MAJOR CHANGES IN THE EXISTING ORGANISATION BUT ONLY A MODEST ADJUSTMENT IN WORKING RELATIONSHIPS. NOR IS ANY REAL OR IMPLIED CRITICISM OF THE HOUSING AUTHORITY OR THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT INTENDED. THEY HAVE MY GREATEST RESPECT,' MR EASON ADDED.
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PRELIMINARY REPORTS ON HOIST ACCIDENT COMPLETED
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE EDUCATION AND MANPOWER BRANCH SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THAT TWO PRELIMINARY REPORTS ON THE PASSENGER HOIST ACCIDENT AT A NORTH POINT CONSTRUCTION SITE EARLY THIS MONTH HAD BEEN SUBMITTED TO THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER FOR CONSIDERATION.
THE REPORTS, BASED ON THE INITIAL INVESTIGATIONS BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT, HAVE IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF ISSUES WHICH NEED TO BE LOOKED AT IN GREATER DETAIL.
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THESE INCLUDE THE CAUSES LEADING TO THE FAILURE OF THE MECHANISM AND THE FAIL-SAFE SYSTEM OF THE PASSENGER HOIST IN QUESTION.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID IT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRIATE AT THIS STAGI TO DISCLOSE THE CONTENT OF THE REPORTS PENDING THE HEARING OF THE INQUEST.
MEANWHILE, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED, THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS WOULD SET UP SHORTLY A GOVERNMENT WORKING GROUP, INVOLVING RELEVANT POLICY BRANCHES AND DEPARTMENTS, ΤΟ REVIEW THE ADEQUACY OF EXISTING REGULATIONS AND CONTROL OF HEAVY MACHINERY, THAT IS, TOWER CRANES AND PASSENGER HOISTS, WHICH POSE POTENTIAL RISKS TO THE OPERATORS AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC.
THE WORKING GROUP IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE ITS FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNMENT IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS' TIME.
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