XN000022-1983-02-02 — Page 16

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1983

+ IN ADDITION, SPECIFIC INSTRUCTIONS HAVE BEEN ISSUED TO SITE SUPERVISORY STAFF REQUIRING THEM TO MAKE INSPECTION AT THE END OF EACH WORKING DAY TO ENSURE THAT OPEN PITS ARE PROPERLY PROTECTED.+

TURNING TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR, MR MCDONALD SAID THAT RESPONSIBILITY FOR SAFETY PRECAUTIONS LAY WITH THE AUTHORISED PERSONS AND CONTRACTORS.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE BUILDING AUTHORITY HAD ALREADY ISSUED A PRACTICE NOTE TO ALL AUTHORISED PERSONS AND REGISTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS EXPLAINING THE PROCEDURES AND REQUIREMENTS REGARDING HOARDINGS ON SITES IN WHICH HE HAD EMPHASISED THAT THE PRIMARY CONSIDERATION MUST BE THE SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE OF THE PUBLIC.

+LEGISLATION REGARDING THE PROVISION OF SAFETY OFFICERS ON CONSTRUCTION SITES HAS ALREADY BEEN DRAFTED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND CONSULTATION ON THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION IS BEING MADE WITH THE BUILDING CONTRACTORS' ASSOCIATION AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES,+ MR MCDONALD SAID.

+HOWEVER, IT MUST BE BORNE IN MIND THAT IT IS VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ENSURE THAT SAFETY MEASURES WILL BE TOTALLY EFFECTIVE IN ALL CASES.+

LAY ASSESSORS SCHEME UNDER STUDY

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A DETAILED ASSESSMENT OF THE LAY ASSESSORS SCHEME WAS IN PROGRESS TO FIND OUT WHETHER THE SCHEME WAS ACHIEVING ITS OBJECTS, THE LAW DRAFTSMAN, THE HON G.P. NAZARETH TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI, MR NAZARETH SAID THE REVIEW WAS NEARLY COMPLETE AND THE RESULTS SHOULD BE REPORTED TO THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS SHORTLY.

IT WOULD THEN HAVE TO BE STUDIED AND THE CONCLUSIONS WOULD BE COMMUNICATED TO THE COUNCIL.

MR NAZARETH ALSO SAID THERE WERE 332 PERSONS ON THE PANEL OF ASSESSORS AND SINCE THE INCEPTION OF THE SCHEME IN 1979, A TOTAL OF 43 NEW MAGISTRATES HAD SAT WITH THEM.

HE SAID ASSESSORS TO MAGISTRATES ARE, IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LEGISLATION, SELECTED BY THE REGISTRAR OF THE SUPREME COURT FROM A PANEL, APPOINTED BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE AFTER CONSULTATION WITH THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS.

THEY ARE ATTACHED TO NEWLY APPOINTED MAGISTRATES FROM ABROAD IN THE IR FIRST FEW MONTHS OF SERVICE IN HONG KONG TO ASSIST IN ASSESSING THE CREDIBILITY OF WITNESSES AND TO PUT FORWARD TO THE MAGISTRATES COMMUNITY VIEWS ABOUT PARTICULAR OFFENCES IN THE CONTEXT OF SENTENCING.

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