XN000022-1972-05-24 — Page 27

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Wednesday, May 24, 1972

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO "JUMBO" FIRE

Recommendations Accepted In Principle With One Exception

Government has accepted in principle, with one exception, the

recommendations of the Commission of Inquiry into the "Jumbo" fire subject

to approval of their financial implications by the Legislative Council's

Finance Committee once these have been worked out.

This was stated today by the Colonial Secretary, the Hon, Sir Hugh

Norman-Walker, at the Legislative Council in a statement on the Report of

the Commission of Inquiry into last October's fire on the "Jumbo" floating

restaurant at Aberdeen.

Sir Hugh said the exception, in paragraph 110 (xviii), was put

forward by the Commission only as an alternative to one of the other

recommendations which had been accepted, and the fact that it had not been

accepted was of no significance.

He pointed out that the Report did not apportion responsibility

between the parties mentioned, nor did it attempt to determine their civil

liabilities since the Commission thought that these were matters which should

be left to the regular Courts of Law.

One of the recommendations accepted, he said, was that the Director

of Marine be given overall responsibility for the supervision of working

conditions on ships and floating structures being built, repaired or renovated

in Colony waters and that he be given suitable powers of enforcement.

The Commission