XN000022-1983-07-13 — Page 19

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 1983

HE SAID A RANGE OF VARYING LOT SIZES AND PLOT RATIOS WERE BEING OFFERED AT THE YUEN LONG ESTATE AND TENDERERS NEEDED ONLY TO FULFIL THE DEFINITIVE CRITERIA FOR SELECTION.

THE CRITERIA WERE THAT THE UNDERTAKINGS:

(A) MUST BE OF A NATURE OR REQUIREMENT WHICH

PROHIBITS THEM FROM BEING CARRIED ON IN

AN ORDINARY MULTI-STOREY INDUSTRIAL BUILDING; AND

(B) MUST NOT BE DECLARED TO BE OFFENSIVE

TRADES UNDER THE OFFENSIVE TRADES

(NEW TERRITORIES) REGULATIONS.

IT WAS ALSO INTENDED THAT THERE WOULD BE NO REQUIREMENT FOR PRIOR COMMITMENT IN RESPECT OF MACHINERY INVESTMENT AND ANNUAL PRODUCTION.

HE SAID THE CORPORATION WOULD CONTINUE TO KEEP THE LETTING POLICIES UNDER OBJECTIVE REVIEW.

CONTRACTORS BOUND BY NOISE LAWS ***

ALL CONTRACTORS WORKING ON CONSTRUCTION SITES ARE BOUND BY THE EXISTING LAWS GOVERNING NOISE AND DUST NUISANCE, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON CHAN NAI-KEONG, TOLD THE. LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

ANSWERING A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HENRY HU, MR CHAN SAID THAT IN THE CASE OF CONTRACTORS EMPLOYED ON GOVERNMENT PROJECTS, THE NEED TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW WAS REITERATED AS A CONDITION OF CONTRACT.

+IN ADDITION, GOVERNMENT CONTRACTS INCLUDE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE CONTRACTOR TO MUFFLE PLANT AND EQUIPMENT WHICH MIGHT CREATE A NOISE NUISANCE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND IN RESPECT OF DUST NUISANCE, TO TAKE MEASURES SUCH AS WATERING AND WHEEL WASHING, AND FOR DEMOLITION WORKS, THE ERECTION OF DUST SCREENS, HE SAID.

IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, CONTRACTORS ARE BOUND ONLY BY EXISTING LAWS AND BY SUCH CONDITIONS AS RESPONSIBLE DEVELOPERS MIGHT IMPOSE UPON THEM OR WHICH RESPONSIBLE CONTRACTORS MIGHT VOLUNTARILY ADOPT.

+THE GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY, IS GIVING THE UTMOST ENCOURAGEMENT TO A WELCOME INITIATIVE TAKEN BY THE BUILDING CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION IN PRODUCING A PROGRAMME OF SELF-RESTRAINT AIMED AT TIGHTENING UP ITS MEMBERS' COMPLIANCE WITH THE EXISTING LAW, AND AT INTRODUCING A VOLUNTARY CODE OF PRACTICE TO DEAL WITH CONSTRUCTION NOISE WHICH IS AT PRESENT LEGAL BUT NONETHELESS ANNOYING, MR CHAN SAID.