XN000022-1982-08-22 — Page 4

SUNDAY, AUGUST 22, 1982

LABOUR LAW OFFENCES

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OF THE 813 PROSECUTIONS TAKEN OUT BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT LAST (JULY) MONTH FOR BREACHES OF LABOUR LAWS, 781 RESULTED IN CONVICTION AND FINES OF MORE THAN $709 000.

MOST OF THE CASES CONCERNED BREACHES OF THE FACTOR IES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND ITS VARIOUS SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS, THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE AND THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY) REGULATIONS.

CASES CONCERNING VIOLATIONS OF SAFETY REGULATIONS TOTALLED 266, WITH $343 500 IN FINES.

THESE INCLUDED 103 CASES (WITH $108 000 IN FINES) FOR BREACH OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (GUARDING AND OPERATION OF MACHINERY) REGULATIONS AND 99 CASES (WITH $252 450 IN FINES) FOR BREACH OF THE CONSTRUCTION SITES (SAFETY) REGULATIONS.

CASES RELATING TO BREACHES OF THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY) REGULATIONS ACCOUNTED FOR 453, WITH $238 690 IN FINES.

OF THE OTHER PROSECUTIONS, 17 CASES CONCERNED FAILURE TO KEEP RECORDS OF EMPLOYEES, LEADING TO $7 800 IN FINES.

REMINDER ON GROUND FLOOR MAIN CABLES

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BUILDING CONTRACTORS AND CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ENGAGED IN RENOVATION WORK ON THE GROUND FLOORS OF OLD POSTWAR BUILDINGS WERE REMINDED TODAY (SUNDAY) TO BE WARY OF ELECTRICITY CABLES UNDERNEATH THE FLOORS.

IN ISSUING THE REMINDER, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID THAT A WORKER DIGGING UP OLD FLOOR TILES ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF AN OLD POSTWAR BUILDING IN APRIL TOUCHED AN UNDERGROUND MAIN CABLE BY ACCIDENT AND RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES.

THE POWER COMPANY SAID THAT IT WAS NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE MAIN CABLES THROUGH THE GROUND FLOOR SLABS IN OLD POSTWAR BUILDINGS.

+AS THERE ARE STILL A NUMBER OF OLD POSTWAR SUILDINGS LEFT IN HONG KONG, CONTRACTORS OR WORKERS ENGAGED IN RENOVATION WORK SHOULD PAY PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO VAIK CABLES WHILE DIGGING UP FLOOR TILES IN THESE BUILDINGS+, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.