7
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 29, 1993
+
COMPANIES
CURRENTLY, THE WATCHMEN ORDINANCE REQUIRES SECURITY TO OBTAIN WRITTEN CONSENT FROM THE COMMISSIONER OF POLICE BEFORE CAN OPERATE.
THE BILL
PROPOSES THAT A 12-MONTH GRACE PERIOD BE SECURITY COMPANIES TO APPLY FOR A LICENCE UNDER
EXISTING LEGISLATION.
ACCORDANCE
AS
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE EXISTING WATCHMEN'S PERMITS
WITH THE WATCHMEN ORDINANCE, SHOULD INITIALLY BE VALID PERMITS FOLLOWING THE ENACTMENT OF THE BILL.
THEY
GIVEN ΤΟ THE NEW
ISSUED IN
REGARDED
THE SECURITY AND GUARDING SERVICES INDUSTRY AUTHORITY WILL THEN INFORM THE PERMIT HOLDERS TO APPLY FOR A NEW PERMIT.
THE BILL PROPOSES A FINE OF $100,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR YEARS FOR AN OFFENCE COMMITTED BY A COMPANY PROVIDING WITHOUT A VALID LICENCE.
TWO
SECURITY
WORK
THE PENALTY FOR CONTRAVENTION OF OTHER OFFENCES IS A FINE $10,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR THREE MONTHS.
OF
92
COMPANIES
AT PRESENT, THERE ARE ABOUT 130,000 REGISTERED WATCHMEN AND COMPANIES INVOLVED IN THE SUPPLY OF WATCHMEN AND ABOUT 136 INVOLVED IN INSTALLING AND MAINTAINING BURGLAR ALARMS.
THE BILL IS SCHEDULED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL ON NOVEMBER 10.
LEGISLATIVE
0
IMPORTANCE OF TAKING SAFETY MEASURES
TAT-KING
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR CHAN TODAY (FRIDAY) REMINDED WORKERS THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING SAFETY MEASURES WHILE WORKING AT HEIGHT.
"TAKING A SIMPLE MEASURE, SUCH AS WEARING A SUITABLE SAFETY BELT WITH THE LANYARD HOOKED TO AN INDEPENDENT LIFE-LINE, WORKERS CAN PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM RECEIVING SERIOUS OR EVEN FATAL INJURIES CAUSED BY FALLING FROM HEIGHT, MR CHAN SAID.
**
THE CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR SAID AN ACCIDENT WHICH OCCURRED IN CAUSEWAY BAY THIS (FRIDAY) MORNING WAS A VIVID EXAMPLE OF HOW TWO WORKERS ESCAPED FROM FALL WHILE WORKING IN A GONDOLA HANGING OUTSIDE THE UPPER FLOORS OF A BUILDING.
HE SAID ACCORDING TO INITIAL INFORMATION, THE GONDOLA SUDDENLY TILTED DOWN BUT NOT THE TWO WORKERS BECAUSE BOTH WERE WEARING SAFETY BELTS WHICH ATTACHED TO AN INDEPENDENT LIFE-LINE. THEY WERE LATER RESCUED BY FIREMEN,
MR CHAN SAID THE FACTORY INVESTIGATING CAUSES OF THE ACCIDENT.
INSPECTORATE
DIVISION
WAS
/THERE ARE