XN000022-1982-11-24 — Page 28

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1982

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BUILDING SITE WALKWAYS

****

THE BUILDING AUTHORITY HAS HAD TO DRAW THE ATTENTION OF REGISTERED CONTRACTORS TO THE UNSATISFACTORY CONDITION OF COVERED WALKWAYS AT BUILDING SITES IN ABOUT 270 INSTANCES OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR DAVID MCDONALD SAID TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ANDREW SO IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR MCDONALD SAID THAT IN EVERY CASE THE CONTRACTOR HAD TAKEN IMMEDIATE ACTION TO PUT THE WALKWAY INTO A SATISFACTORY STATE OF REPAIR AND NO FURTHER ACTION BY THE BUILDING AUTHORITY WAS REQUIRED.

+ IN CASES WHERE WALKWAYS ARE RENDERED IMPASSABLE DUE TO BLOCKAGE BY DEBRIS, BUILDING MATERIALS AND SO ON, ACTIONS AGAINST THE OFFENDERS ARE INSTITUTED BY THE POLICE UNDER SECTION 4A OF THE SUMMARY OFFENCES ORDINANCE,+ MR MCDONALD SAID.

HOWEVER, HE ADDED THAT AS THE POLICE DID NOT MAINTAIN READILY AVAILABLE STÁTISTICS ON THIS TYPE OF PROSECUTION HE WAS UNABLE TO TELL HOW MANY CONTRACTORS MIGHT HAVE BEEN PROSECUTED OVER THE TWO-YEAR PERIOD NOR WHAT PENALTIES MIGHT HAVE BEEN IMPOSED.

OFF-COURSE BETTING CENTRES AND +OBSCENE+ SIGNBOARDS ****

THE LICENSING OF SUFFICIENT OFF-COURSE BETTING CENTRES IS TO ASSIST IN SUPPRESSING ILLEGAL GAMBLING AND NOT TO ENCOURAGE THE GROWTH OF GAMBLING, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON D.C. BRAY, SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MR BRAY WAS REPLYING TO THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG WHO ASKED ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY REGARDING SUCH CENTRES.

ON THE ISSUE OF +OBSCENE ADVERTISING SIGNS+ OUTSIDE OF CLUBS AND RESIDENTIAL FLATS RAISED BY THE HON MARIA TAM, MR BRAY SAID SUCH SIGNS FALL UNDER THE DEFINITION OF +OBJECTIONABLE ARTICLE+ IN THE OBJECTIONABLE PUBLICATIONS ORDINANCE (CAP. 150).

UNDER THE SUBSECTION 6 (3) OF THE ORDINANCE, HE EXPLAINED, ANY POLICE OFFICER WITH A WARRANT FROM A MAGISTRATE MAY SEIZE ANY ARTICLE WHICH HE REASONABLY SUSPECTS IS OBJECTIONABLE UNDER THE LAW.

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