XN000022-1984-05-04 — Page 11

FRIDAY, MAY 4, 1984

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PROPOSED NEW ELECTRICITY ORDINANCE SUPPORTED

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THERE HAS BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY STRONG AND POSITIVE SUPPORT FOR THE NEW ELECTRICITY ORDINANCE THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING, THE DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES, MR GRAHAM OSBORNE, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

MR OSBORNE, WHO WAS SPEAKING AT THE 39TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER OF THE HONG KONG AND KOWLOON ELECTRIC TRADE ASSOCIATION, SAID FORMAL CONSULTATIONS ABOUT THE ORDINANCE WITH THE SUPPLY COMPANIES AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES HAD GOT OFF TO A SMOOTH START LAST DECEMBER.

IN ADDITION TO THE TWO SUPPLY COMPANIES, SUMMARIES OF THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS HAD ALSO BEEN FORWARDED TO SOME 12 TRADE, INDUSTRY OR CONTRACTING ASSOCIATIONS, WORKERS' UNIONS OR OTHER INTERESTED BODIES,

+1 AM PLEASED TO TELL YOU THAT, ON THE BASIS OF THE REPLIES HAVE RECEIVED AND DISCUSSIONS HELD, THE SUPPORT HAS BEEN OVERWHELMINGLY STRONG AND POSITIVE, HE SAID.

HOWEVER, THERE WERE STILL A FEW OUTSTANDING RESPONSES AWAITED, MAINLY BECAUSE SOME GROUPS HAD SET UP SPECIAL WORKING PARTIES TO STUDY AND EXAMINE THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS. HE WOULD APPRECIATE HAVING THOSE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS THE GOVERNMENT WAS WORKING TO A FAIRLY TIGHT SCHEDULE TO PREPARE THE MAIN BILL AND THE MORE IMPORTANT REGULATIONS.

AFTER CONSOLIDATING THE INITIAL COMMENTS FROM ALL INTERESTED PARTIES, THE NEXT STEP WOULD BE TO CIRCULATE DETAILED DISCUSSION PAPERS FOR FURTHER CONSULTATION, BEFORE THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT BEGAN LAW DRAFTING ACTION, HE SAID.

MR OSBORNE SAID THE PROPOSED NEW ELECTRICITY BILL WOULD INCLUDE SEVERAL MAIN ISSUES, SOME OF WHICH WOULD BE EMBODIED IN THE MAIN BILL, WHILE OTHERS, BECAUSE OF THEIR COMPLEXITY, WOULD BE INCLUDED IN SEPARATE REGULATIONS, ANNEXED TO THE BILL.

NOT ALL THE REGULATIONS WOULD BE ENACTED WITH THE NEW BILL-

A FEW WOULD BE ON AN +AS AND WHEN REQUIRED+ BASIS.

THIS ARRANGEMENT WOULD ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT MORE TIME TO DISCUSS EACH REGULATION WITH INTERESTED PARTIES BEFORE IT WAS FINALISED AND ENACTED.

HE SAID THE REGISTRATION OF ELECTRICAL WORKERS AND CONTRACTORS WAS OF PARTICULAR INTEREST TO THOSE IN THE ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING BUSINESS.

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BASICALLY, WHEN THE NEW BILL WAS ENACTED, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD REGISTER ALL SKILLED AND EXPERIENCED WORKERS AND ALSO ALL ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING COMPANIES.

/AT THE