XN000022-1982-06-02 — Page 32

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1982

31

NO RULING ON REFRIGERANTS

***

THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOT, ON PRESENT EVIDENCE, REGULATE OR PROHIBIT THE USE OF REFRIGERANTS IN REFRIGERATORS, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE WAS ANSWERING A QUESTION BY THE HON MARIA TAM IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WHO SAID THAT SINCE CERTAIN REFRIGERANTS (SUCH AS SULPHUR DIOXIDE AND AMMONIA) COMMONLY USED IN REFRIGERATORS, HOUSEHOLD AND VEHICLE AIR-CONDITIONERS +ARE HIGHLY TOXIC AND LETHAL IN CASE OF LEAKAGE, PARTICULARLY IN CONFINED SPACE+ AND ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD REGULATE OR PROHIBIT THE USE OF SUCH POISONOUS REFRIGERANTS IN SUCH APPLIANCES.

MR JEAFFRESON ADDED THAT NEITHER THE ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH NOR OTHER BRANCHES OR DEPARTMENTS HAVE RECEIVED ANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT REFRIGERANTS.

DUTIES GO METRIC

***

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED A MOTION TO BASE DUTIES, PAYABLE ON DUTIABLE COMMODITIES, ON METRIC UNITS.

THE ACTING FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON HENRY CHING, SAID THE NEW RATES HAD BEEN CALCULATED SO AS TO BE NEUTRAL IN THE IR EFFECT ON THE REVENUE.

+THE CONVERSIONS HAVE BEEN ROUNDED OFF TO THE NEAREST FIVE CENTS, FOR CONVENIENCE, AND THE INCREASE OR DECREASE ON ANY SINGLE CATEGORY IS GENERALLY LESS THAN 0.5 PER CENT,+ HE SAID.

MR CHING SAID IT WAS INTENDED THAT ALL REFERENCES IN THE DUTIABLE COMMODITIES ORDINANCE TO NON-METRIC UNITS SHOULD BE REPLACED WITH METRIC UNITS.

+REFERENCES TO IMPERIAL UNITS OF MEASUREMENT IN THE ORDINANCE WILL BE REPLACED BY BROADLY EQUIVALENT OR, WHERE THIS WOULD CLEARLY BE IMPRACTICAL, CONVENIENT METRIC UNITS, HE ADDED.

/32