XN000022-1976-06-08 — Page 4

TUESDAY, JUNE 8, 1976

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THE SPOKESMAN STRESSED THAT THE REMOVAL OF THE TANNERIES FROM SHEUNG SHUI WAS ESSENTIAL ON THE GROUNDS OF THE HEAVY POLLUTION BEING CAUSED TO THE SUTLEJ RIVER, WHICH FLOWS INTO THE SHAM CHUN RIVER, AND BECAUSE THE AREA WOULD BE NEEDED FOR DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING HOUSING AND LIGHT INDUSTRY.

+THE PRESENT TANNERIES OPERATION IS SPREAD OUT IN MOSTLY SINGLE STOREY STRUCTURES OVER MORE THAN 600,000 SQUARE FEET OF LAND AND IS, THEREFORE, EXCEEDINGLY WASTEFUL OF LAND RESOURCES,+ HE SAID,

HE REPEATED GOVERNMENT'S RESOLVE TO GO AHEAD WITH THE REMOVAL ON JULY 31, STATING: +THERE IS. NO POSSIBILITY THAT THIS DATE CAN BE ALTERED. WE STRONGLY URGE THE OPERATORS TO BEGIN IMMEDIATELY MAKING MOVES TO DEVELOP THE IR KWAI CHUNG SITES SO THAT THEY CAN CARRY ON THEIR TANNERY BUSINESSES. + HE ADDED THAT THE TANNERS HAD REQUESTED MORE LAND AT KWAI CHUNG AND GOVERNMENT HAD OFFERED AN ADDITIONAL 100,000 SQUARE FEET.

PRECAUTIONS NEEDED BEFORE ENTERING CONFINED SPACES

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THE RECENT ACCIDENT IN WHICH TWO MEN DIED AFTER ENTERING A WATER WELL AT A FACTORY SITE IN SHA TIN WAS A TRAGIC ILLUSTRATION OF THE NEED FOR PEOPLE TO TAKE PROPER PRECAUTIONS WHEN ENTERING A CONFINED SPACE, THE ACTING DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. M.C. LAO, SAID TODAY.

IN THE ACCIDENT AT A FACTORY IN PAK SHEK VILLAGE, SHA TIN, LAST THURSDAY, THREE MEN COLLAPSED AND TWO OF THEM DIED, AFTER ENTERING THE WELL. A LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THERE WAS A DEFICIENCY OF OXYGEN IN THE AIR (ONLY SEVEN PER CENT) IN THE WELL AND THAT THERE WERE ALSO TRACES OF EXPLOSIVE FUMES.

MR. LAO SAID THAT UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDER- TAKINGS (CONFINED SPACES) REGULATIONS WHICH CAME INTO FORCE IN 1973 A WELL WAS DEFINED AS A CONFINED SPACE, AND A FREE GUIDE TO THESE REGULATIONS WAS ISSUED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IN THE SAME YEAR.

ONE OF THE PRECAUTIONARY REQUIREMENTS WAS THAT WORKERS SHOULD WEAR APPROVED BREATHING APPARATUS AND SHOULD HAVE THE PERMISSION OF THE PROPRIETOR TO ENTER THE CONFINED SPACE.

THE SHA TIN CASE IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT. MEANWHILE, THE FACTORY MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN ADVISED TO PUT A NOTICE WARNING PEOPLE NOT TO ENTER THE WELL OR BRING INFLAMMABLE MATERIALS NEAR IT.