XN000022-1982-03-10 — Page 12

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 1982

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MID-LEVELS BUILDING BAN EXTENDED

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THE STATUTORY BAN ON BUILDING DEVELOPMENT IN MID-LEVELS IS TO BE EXTENDED FOR FOUR MORE MONTHS.

THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS THE HON DAVID MCDONALD MOVED A RESOLUTION IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY TO EXTEND THE STATUTORY RESTRICTION UNTIL JULY 31.

THE TEMPORARY RESTRICTION OF BUILDING DEVELOPMENT (MID-LEVELS) ORDINANCE, ENACTED IN MAY 1979, ENABLES A DETAILED GEOTECHNICAL SURVEY OF THE HILLSIDE SLOPES IN THE AREA TO BE COMPLETED.

IT WAS ORIGINALLY DUE TO EXPIRE ON DECEMBER 31, 1981 BUT WAS EXTENDED FOR THREE MONTHS UNTIL MARCH 31 TO ENABLE AMENDMENTS TO THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS TO BE INTRODUCED SO THAT THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE OFFICE WOULD BE ABLE TO EXERCISE APPROPRIATE GEOTECHNICAL CONTROL ON NEW BUILDING WORKS IN MID-LEVELS.

AT THAT TIME, IT WAS HOPED THAT IT WOULD PROVE POSSIBLE TO INTRODUCE THE AMENDING BILL IN TIME FOR IT AND AMENDING REGULATIONS TO COME INTO FORCE BY THE END OF MARCH.

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MR MCDONALD SAID, IT IS NOW CLEAR THAT MORE TIME IS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING PROCESS AND TO ENABLE THE DRAFT LEGISLATION TO BE ADEQUATELY CONSIDERED BY THE GOVERNMENT BEFORE BEING INTRODUCED TO THE COUNCIL.+

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THEREFORE HE ADDED, A FURTHER FOUR MONTHS EXTENSION OF THE STATUTORY RESTRICTION ON NEW BUILDING IN MID-LEVELS WAS NECESSARY.

INCREASED FINES PROPOSED

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS PROPOSED INCREASING THE PENALTIES PRESCRIBED IN THE BOILERS AND PRESSURE RECEIVERS ORDINANCE.

AN AMENDMENT BILL PROVIDING FOR FINES RANGING FROM $5 000 TO $50 000 WAS TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BOILERS AND PRESSURE RECEIVERS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON J.N. HENDERSON, POINTED OUT THAT THE FINES PRESCRIBED IN THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE WERE FIXED IN 1963 AND WERE INSUFFICIENT TO ACT AS A DETERRENT.

+IN RECOMMENDING THE LEVELS OF THE REVISED PENALTIES, I HAVE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENCES AND WHETHER THE OFFENCE WAS COMMITTED BY PERSONS OTHER THAN THE OWNER IN A SIMILAR WAY TO FINE LEVELS RECENTLY REVISED FOR ALL SAFETY REGULATIONS UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE.

/+THE SAME