XN000022-1976-01-21 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 1976

DR. THE HON. S.Y. CHUNG WELCOMED THE AMENDING REGULATIONS BUT DREW THE ATTENTION OF THE COMMISSIONER TO TWO POINTS. REFERRING TO THE REGULATION GOVERNING GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING OF WORKPLACE, HE SAID THERE HAD BEEN FAST INCREASING USE OF AIR-CONDITIONING WITH EFFICIENT AND EFFECTIVE AIR FILTERING IN FACTORIES, EITHER DUE TO THE NEED OF THE MANUFACTURING PROCESS OR FOR IMPROVING THE WORKING CONDITIONS AND LABOUR PRODUCTIVITY.

+TO GROUP THIS KIND OF AIR-CONDITIONED OPERATIONS WITH OTHER NON-AIR-CONDITIONED ONES WOULD SEEM RATHER UNFAIR.

+THE VERY RIGID REQUIREMENT OF LIMEWASHING ALL WALLS AND CEILINGS AT LEAST ONCE IN EVERY YEAR FOR AIR-CONDITIONED WORKPLACES IS, IN MY VIEW, AN UNNECESSARY BURDEN BOTH IN COST AND ESPECIALLY DISRUPTION OF WORK, HE SAID.

IN REPLY, MR. PRICE SAID HE DID CONSIDER THE QUESTION OF REGISTRABLE WORKPLACES IN WHICH AIR-CONDITIONING WAS INSTALLED, BUT DECIDED THAT THERE WAS NO STRONG CASE'' FOR WRITING INTO THESE REGULATIONS PROVISIONS EXEMPTING SUCH WORKPLACES FROM THE REQUIREMENT OF THE REGULATION GOVERNING GENERAL HOUSEKEEPING,

SYMPATHETIC

HE GAVE AN ASSURANCE THAT HE WOULD GIVE CONSIDERATION'' TO ANY REPRESENTATIONS THAT THIS REGULATION WAS OPERATING, OR BEING APPLIED, HARSHLY AGAINST A PARTICULAR WORKPLACE.

WHERE HE WAS CONVINCED THAT THERE COULD BE INJUSTICE, HE WOULD BE PREPARED TO EXERCISE HIS POWERS TO GRANT EXEMPTIONS.

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