XN000022-1979-07-27 — Page 2

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CHIEF SECRETARY LEAVES FOR AUSTRALIA

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THE CHIEF SECRETARY, SIR JACK CATER, WILL BE LEAVING HONG KONG LATER TODAY (FRIDAY) FOR AUSTRALIA.

SIR JACK HAS ACCEPTED AN INVITATION TO SPEAK AT A CONFERENCE ON THE REFUGEE SITUATION IN SOUTHEAST ASIA TO BE HELD AT THE NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, CANBERRA, ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY.

THE CHIEF SECRETARY WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF HIS VISIT TO CALL ON AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS BOTH IN CANBERRA AND SYDNEY.

SIR JACK WILL BE AWAY FOR ABOUT 10 DAYS AND DURING THIS PERIOD THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, MR. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, WILL ACT AS CHIEF SECRETARY AND MR. HENRY CHING WILL ACT AS FINANCIAL SECRETARY.

PENALTIES FOR CONTRAVENTION OF BUILDING (DEMOLITION WORKS) REGULATIONS TO BE INCREASED AS FROM TODAY *****

THE BUILDING (DEMOLITION WORKS) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 1979, WHICH AIM TO INCREASE THE PENALTIES FOR CONTRAVENTION OF THE BUILDING (DEMOLITION WORKS) REGULATIONS, COME INTO EFFECT TODAY (FRIDAY).

UNDER THE NEW REGULATIONS, THE FINE FOR AN AUTHORISED PERSON FAILING TO ENSURE THAT ELECTRICITY SUPPLY, GAS, WATER AND OTHER SERVICES ARE DISCONNECTED BEFORE DEMOLITION WORK COMMENCES,

IS INCREASED FROM $2,000 TO $25,000.

THE OTHER AMENDMENTS CONCERN REGISTERED CONTRACTORS AND THE IR RESPONSIBILITIES TO ENSURE, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE SAFETY OF DEMOLITION WORKERS IN RESPECT OF GAS EXPLOSIONS AND WATER FLOODING, THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE SHORING, AND COMPETENT AND EXPERIENCED SUPERVISION OF DEMOLITION WORKS.

THE PENALTY FOR CONTRAVENING THESE REGULATIONS IS $100,000 AND TWO YEARS IMPRISONMENT INSTEAD OF $2,000 AND SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT.

FOR FAILING TO ERECT SCREENS AND FANS TO CATCH DEBRIS, AND FOR FAILING TO TAKE OTHER PRECAUTIONS BEFORE COMMENCING DEMOLITION, THE FINE IS INCREASED FROM $2,000 TO $25,000.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE SAID THE AMENDMENTS FORMED PART OF AN EXERCISE TO OVERHAUL AND UP-DATE THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE WHICH WAS ENACTED IN 1955.

DESPITE AN AMENDMENT TO THE ORDINANCE IN 1972, WHICH INCREASED THE LEVEL OF PENALTIES FOR A FEW OFFENCES, THE PENALTIES FOR THE REMAINING OFFENCES HAD REMAINED UNCHANGED UNTIL EARLIER THIS YEAR WHEN PENALTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE MAIN ORDINANCE WERE INCREASED.

THE PRESENT AMENDMENTS CONCERN PENALTIES ASSOCIATED WITH SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS.