XN000022-1984-07-18 — Page 7

WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 1984

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+ IT WAS AGREED THAT IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE VISA OFFICE IN HONG KONG TO ENJOY THE SAME PRIVILEGES AND I-MUNITIES AS THOSE TWO CONSULATES-GENERAL IN SHANGHAI AND ↑ CHESTER,+ SAID MR THOMAS.

THE CONTENTS OF THE BILL ARE STRAIGHTFORWARD, HE SAID, AND SPELL OUT PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES USING WHEREVER POSSIBLE THE LANGUAGE OF THE VIENNA CONVENTION ON CONSULAR RELATIONS. THE OFFICE WOULD BE PUT ON THE SAME BASIS AS OTHER CONSULATES- E=NERAL AND COMMONWEALTH COMMISSIONS.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

BILL SEEKS TO AMEND BUILDING ORDINANCE

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THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1984, INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, SEEKS TO MAKE THREE AMENDMENTS TO THE BUILDING ORDINANCE, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON F.E. SHORT, SAID.

WITH +THE HONG KONG BRANCH OF THE INSTITUTION OF STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS+ NO LONGER IN EXISTENCE, THE BILL PROPOSES TO REPLACE THIS NAME IN THE ORDINANCE WITH THE HONG KONG INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS+ WHICH NOW INCORPORATES THE DEFUNCT BODY.

MR SHORT EXPLAINED THAT THE PRESENT WORDING OF THE ORDINANCE STILL REFERS TO THE FORMER INSTITUTION AS THE BODY RESPONSIBLE FOR NOMINATING THE REGISTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER MEMBER OF THE REGISTRATION COMMITTEE AND ALSO AS THE BODY FROM WHICH REGISTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEER MEMBERS OF THE DISCIPLINARY BOARD PANEL ARE SELECTED,

+ THE SECOND OBJECT OF THE BILL IS FURTHER TO AMEND THE WORDING OF SECTION 5A (2) OF THE ORDINANCE, WHICH AT PRESENT STATES THAT THE DISCIPLINARY BOARD PANEL SHALL CONSIST OF NOT MORE THAN 20 MEMBERS, BUT WHICH GOES ON TO STIPULATE UNEQUIVOCALLY THAT THERE SHALL BE FIVE MEMBERS FROM EACH OF FOUR NAMED PROFESSIONAL BODIES.

+TO AVOID ANY CHALLENGE WHICH MIGHT ARISE IF, THROUGH DEATH, RETIREMENT OR OTHER REASON, THERE WERE AT ANY TIME LESS THAN FIVE MEMBERS FROM EACH OF THE NAMED BODIES, THE AMENDMENT WILL MAKE IT CLEAR THAT NOT MORE THAN FIVE MEMBERS ARE TO BE DRAWN FROM EACH BODY,+ HE SAID.

WHICH THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES TO REMOVE THE WORD SOCIETY+, WAS NOT DELETED WHEN THE FORMER ENGINEERING SOCIETY OF HONG KONG CEASED TO BE NAMED IN SECTION 5A (2) OF THE ORDINANCE.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

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