XN000022-1982-04-28 — Page 14

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1982

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THE CONSULTANT EMPHASISED THAT THE LEGISLATION SHOULD HAVE A SIMPLE FRAMEWORK WHICH WOULD BE OPERABLE IN THE PRESENT INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS AND WOULD STILL BE VIABLE IN THE FUTURE AS IMPROVEMENTS IN STANDARD BECAME NECESSARY TO FURTHER IMPROVE WORKING CONDITIONS.

MEANWHILE, DR HAYES CONTINUED, A CODE OF PRACTICE FOR REDUCING THE EXPOSURE OF INDUSTRIAL WORKERS TO NOISE WAS BEING PREPARED,

IT WOULD INCORPORATE THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING GROUP ON PROTECTION OF WORKERS' HEARING, COMPOSED OF OFFICIAL AND UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS AND CHAIRED BY THE OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CONSULTANT.

THE CODE WOULD PROVIDE A BASIS AND DIRECTION FOR THE POSSIBLE INTRODUCTION OF FURTHER LEGISLATION FOR REDUCING AND CONTROLLING INDUSTRIAL NOISE AT SOURCE TO ACHIEVE SAFE LEVELS.

DR HAYES SAID THAT CARE WOULD BE TAKEN AT THAT TIME TO ESTABLISH THE PRACTICABILITY OF ANY NEW PROPOSALS, AND TO ALLOW SUFFICIENT TIME FOR INDUSTRY TO MAKE THE REQUIRED CHANGES AND IMPROVEMENTS.

PLAN FOR TEMPORARY SCHOOL FOR SEAMEN

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ABOUT 5 000 HONG KONG SEAMEN WHOSE TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE ARE INSUFFICIENT TO MEET THE MANDATORY MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS LAID DOWN IN THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION ON STANDARDS OF TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCH-KEEPING FOR SEAFARERS WILL FACE THE THREAT OF IMMEDIATE UNEMPLOYMENT ONCE THE CONVENTION COMES INTO EFFECT SOME TIME NEXT YEAR.

IN HIS REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON SAID THAT TO MEET THESE CRITICAL CIRCUMSTANCES, THE GOVERNMENT HAD PUT APPROPRIATE PROPOSALS SEEKING TO ESTABLISH A TEMPORARY TRAINING SCHOOL FOR SEAMEN TO THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.

ONCE IN THIS WAY WE HAD SOLVED THE IMMEDIATE PROBLEM OF KEEPING OUR SEAMEN EMPLOYABLE, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER WITH THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL WHAT THE PERMANENT ANSWER SHOULD BE, HE SAID.

MR JE AFFRESON SAID THERE WERE AT PRESENT SOME 87 000 SEAMEN REGISTERED WITH THE MARINE DEPARTMENT, BUT OF THESE ONLY ABOUT 17 000 COULD BE SAID TO BE ACTIVELY EMPLOYED ON OCEAN-GOING SHIPS.

/HE SAID OF