21
+
Safety for glassware products
Following is a question by the Hon Chan Kam-lam and a written reply by the Secretary for Trade and Industry, Miss Denise Yue, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the number of accidents involving industrial and household glassware products and installations in the past three years; and
(b) whether it will consider introducing regulations to stipulate the safety standards for glassware products and to require manufacturers to specify on their products the types of glass used and the level of durability measured in an impact-test?
Reply:
Mr President
(a) We do not have statistics on the number of accidents involving industrial and household glassware products and installations. Industrial accident statistics are analysed by cause and by industry. There is no breakdown by either the material or the equipment involved in industrial accidents. The Hospital Authority compiles patient statistics according to international classification of diseases. It does not have separate figures on the number of accidents involving use or installation of glassware products.
(b) The safety of glassware products for private use or consumption is already covered by the Consumer Goods Safety Ordinance, which came into force in October this year. This Ordinance imposes a statutory duty on manufacturers, importers and suppliers of consumer goods (including glassware products) to ensure that the goods they supply in Hong Kong are safe. Section 4 of the Ordinance further requires that consumer goods (including glassware products) supplied in Hong Kong must comply with a general safety requirement which includes, inter alias, the adoption of reasonable safety standards published by a standards institute. Any supplier who fails to comply with the requirement under the Ordinance commits an offence. The Commissioner of Customs and Excise will monitor the situation and take enforcement action as appropriate.