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Use and removal of asbestos
Following is a question by Dr the Hon John Tse Wing-ling and a written reply by the Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Bowen Leung, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Regarding the use and removal of asbestos, will the Government inform this Council whether:
(a) the Government will conduct a comprehensive inspection of the asbestos used in all existing buildings in the territory to ensure that the health of the public will not be threatened by structures containing asbestos materials; if so, whether the findings of the inspection will be made known to the public; and
(b) the Government will introduce asbestos substitution technique to the industrial sector, so as to restrict the use of asbestos gradually or ban its use completely?
Reply:
Mr President,
(a) As asbestos materials only become an environmental concern when they are improperly handled by people without the requisite knowledge and experience, it is not necessary to conduct a comprehensive inspection on asbestos used in existing buildings. The Administration's plan is to introduce a comprehensive scheme in 1996 to control environmental asbestos and require by law personnel involved in handling asbestos to be properly trained and registered. The scheme will also require certain classes of buildings such as hospitals and schools to inspect their buildings, to label any asbestos materials identified and to submit proper plans for the handling of such materials to the Environmental Protection Department.
(b) With regard to the use of asbestos in the industrial sector, under the Factory and Industrial Undertakings (Asbestos) Special Regulations, the use of blue and brown asbestos and the spraying of white asbestos by all industrial undertakings have been banned since 1986. Amendments to these regulations to ban the use of any asbestos as an insulation material are under preparation. In early 1996 we propose to ban the import and sale of blue and brown asbestos, which are now rarely used, and to impose further controls on the use of less harmful white asbestos through regulations and a code of practice. Asbestos substitutes are readily available and are already being used widely to replace asbestos materials.
End/Wednesday, November 8, 1995