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I agree with Mr Ronald Arculli that many parties share responsibility for ensuring safety and health at the workplace. We firmly believe that both the employers and the workers should have an equally important part to play. It is indeed the key element for the success of a safety management system. As regards the need for consultation on a practical and realistic timetable, I can assure this Council that it has been Government's long standing practice to consult all those likely to be affected. It has also been our practice to allow a grace period so that the trades concerned can have adequate time to train their staff and the workforce, and prepare themselves for the introduction of the new law. We will certainly consult all relevant professional, employers and employees bodies on implementing the recommendations in the consultation paper. The time table for implementing the recommendations will be tight, but it will be practicable and realistic.
I look forward to Members support when our legislative proposals are submitted to this Council later this year.
Thank you, Mr President.
End
Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation Annual Report
Following is the speech by the acting Secretary for Education and Manpower, Miss Jacqueline Willis, in presenting the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation Annual Report 1994-95 at the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Mr President,
I have pleasure in presenting a report of the highlights and main features of the Hong Kong Council for Academic Accreditation's fifth Annual Report.
The HKCAA's role and responsibilities were to validate degree programmes and review the general academic standards of Hong Kong's four non-university degree awarding tertiary institutions during 1994-95. Also, it provided authoritative advice on the standards of qualifications; monitored and disseminated information on higher education, quality assurance and academic standards at home and abroad and continued to develop links with quality assurance bodies throughout the world.