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Secondly, it enables the Gas Authority to inspect works in the vicinity of a gas pipe and to require such improvement measures as he considers necessary in the interests of gas safety.
Thirdly, it enables the Gas Authority to intervene in the interests of safety when there is a failure to comply with an improvement notice and provides for recovery of the cost of any improvement measures which it is necessary for the Authority to take from the person who has failed to comply with the improvement notice.
If enacted by this Council, the Bill will be followed by a new regulation requiring that construction works should not be carried out near a gas pipe unless its position has been checked and steps taken to ensure that it will not be damaged by the works. The regulation will provide that a person not taking all reasonable measures to protect a gas pipe from damage arising out of his construction works will commit an offence and be liable on conviction to the new maximum penalty proposed in the Bill.
The Bill will be brought into effect 6 months after enactment to allow time for the new regulation to be made, for a code of practice to be issued by the Gas Authority and for the gas supply companies and the construction industry to adjust to the new requirements.
Mr President, these proposals reflect the Government's concern at the frequent damage to gas pipes through careless construction and excavation works. There were 120 such incidents in 1994. Though the consequences of most of these incidents were thankfully - relatively minor, damage to a gas pipe may cause fire or explosion, posing a risk to workers, the general public and property in the vicinity. The proposals that I have outlined aim to minimise the potential for such hazards. I therefore commend the Bill to members.
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End/Wednesday, March 8, 1995
Credit Unions (Amendment) Bill 1995
Following is the speech by the Acting Secretary for Economic Services, Mrs Elizabeth Bosher, when moving the second reading of the Credit Unions (Amendment) Bill 1995 in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Mr President,
I move that the Credit Unions (Amendment) Bill 1995 be read a second time.