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The convention applies to containers used in international transport by sea and on land, excluding containers specially designed for air transport.
"Though the convention covers only containers used for international transport, the bill applies also to domestic transport so as to ensure the construction and safety standards of containers used in Hong Kong," the spokesman said.
"It will improve safety standards within the container industry and ensure that only approved and properly maintained containers are handled, thus reducing accidents arising from the use of unsafe containers."
The bill provides also the requirement for the owner, lessee or bailee of a container to ensure that the container is approved, fixed with a Safety Approval Plate, properly maintained, examined and that markings on it are consistent with information on the plate.
Under the bill, the Safety Approval Plate has to be affixed to an approved container to show the details of the container, such as the date of manufacture, maximum operating gross weight and allowable stacking weight.
The bill gives the Director of Marine the powers to appoint suitable qualified and experienced persons, such as classification societies, to approve containers.
The Government has consulted eight container vehicle owners and drivers associations and the shipping industry. They have no objection to the proposal.
End
Compensation for work-related injuries improved
The three-day qualifying period for entitlement to periodical payments of an employee who has been incapacitated by a work-related injury will be repealed tomorrow (Wednesday) when the Employees' Compensation (Amendment) (No 2) Ordinance 1996 becomes effective.
A spokesman for the Labour Department said today (Tuesday) that a new form has been specified to allow employers of employees who have been incapacitated as a result of work-related injuries for a period not exceeding three days to report less information of the accident to the Commissioner for Labour.