XN000022-1980-06-25 — Page 31

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 25, 1980

29

TACKLING FIRES AND FIRE HAZARDS

*****

THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON LEWIS DAVIES, SAID TODAY THAT THERE WERE EXTREME DIFFICULTIES IN FIGHTING THE RECENT KWAI CHUNG GODOWN FIRE DUE TO THE AMOUNTS OF COMBUSTIBLE GOODS STORED IN THE PASSAGEWAYS AND EXITS OF THE AFFECTED PREMISES, WHICH PREVENTED FIRE OFFICERS FROM GAINING RAPID ACCESS TO THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE.

HE WAS REPLYING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO THE HON LI FOOK- WO WHO ALSO ASKED WHAT STEPS WOULD BE TAKEN TO ENSURE MORE EFFECTIVE FIRE FIGHTING IN FUTURE.

TO THIS, MR DAVIES SAID STEPS WERE CONTINUOUSLY BEING TAKEN TO MAINTAIN A HIGH STANDARD OF EFFECTIVENESS BY UPDATING FIRE FIGHTING EQUIPMENT, RECRUITING AND TRAINING FIREMEN AND FIRE OFFICERS OF SUITABLE CALIBRE, BY ROUTINE DAILY FIRE EXERCISES, AND BY THE CONSTRUCTION OF ADDITIONAL FIRE STATIONS.

A LARGE PROGRAMME OF FIRE PREVENTION IS ALSO IMPLEMENTED. UNDER THIS THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT PUBLICISES THE DANGERS OF OBSTRUCTING EXITS, STAIRCASES AND LIFT LOBBIES, CARRIES OUT INSPECTIONS TO ABATE FIRE HAZARDS AND ALSO CHECKS THE PLANS OF NEW BUILDINGS TO ENSURE THAT APPROPRIATE MINIMUM FIRE PROTECTION IS PROVIDED. IT DOES ITS BEST THROUGH ITS INSPECTORATE AND BY THE USE OF LEGISLATIVE POWERS TO ENSURE THAT AREAS ARE CLEARED OF OBSTRUCTION AFTER AN INSPECTION, HE SAID.

THEFT ORDINANCE IMPROVED

*****

JUDICIAL DIFFICULTIES OF INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION OF THE THEFT ORDINANCE MAY BE CLEARED UP WITH AMENDMENTS TO SOME SECTIONS OF THE ORDINANCE, THE LAW DRAFTSMAN, THE HON G.P. NAZARETH, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE THEFT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980, MR NAZARETH SAID THE ORDINANCE WAS DERIVED FROM THE 1968 THEFT ACT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM.

HOWEVER, ONE SECTION OF THE ACT WAS DESCRIBED BY THE COURT OF APPEAL IN ENGLAND AS A JUDICIAL NIGHTMARE+ AND

IN HONG KONG IT PRESENTED THE COURTS WITH +MAJOR DIFFICULTIES OF INTERPRETATION AND APPLICATION+.

+

IN ENGLAND, AMENDMENTS TO THE ACT WERE ENFORCED IN 1978. MR NAZARETH SAID IT WAS NOW PROPOSED TO MAKE SIMILAR CHANGES TO THE THEFT ORDINANCE, MODELLED ON THE 1978 THEFT ACT, WITH ONE IMPORTANT DIFFERENCE - THE DISHONEST OBTAINING OF TIME FOR PAYMENT BY DECEPTION.

/IN THE