XN000022-1984-12-19 — Page 24

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1984'

22

BILLS CLARIFY MEANS OF ESCAPE RESPONSIBILITY

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THREE BILLS WHICH SEEK TO CLARIFY THAT THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS THE RESPONSIBLE BODY FOR ENSURING THAT BUILDINGS HAVE ADEQUATE MEANS OF ESCAPE IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, WERE GIVEN SECOND READING

IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THESE BILLS ARE THE FIRE SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984, THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 AND THE EDUCATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984.

THE AUTHORITY'S RESPONSIBILITY IN THIS REGARD IS PROVIDED FOR IN THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON DAVID JEAFFRESON, SAID.

+BUT UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE FIRE SERVICES ORDINANCE, THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MATTERS CONCERNING FIRE HAZARDS INCLUDING THOSE ARISING FROM THE INADEQUATE PROVISION OF MEANS OF ESCAPE,+ MR JEAFFRESON EXPLAINED.

TO ELIMINATE THIS OVERLAP OF RESPONSIBILITY, THE FIRE SERVICES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1984 SEEKS TO DELETE FROM THE DEFINITION OF +F IRE HAZARD+ IN SECTION 2 OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE, REFERENCES TO MATTERS RELATING TO THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE MEANS OF ESCAPE.

IT ALSO PROPOSES TO REPEAL SECTION 24 OF THE ORDINANCE WHICH REFERS TO THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE MEANS OF ESCAPE IN CERTAIN TYPES OF BUILDINGS AND FOR WHICH THE BUILDING AUTHORITY IS ALSO THE RESPONSIBLE BODY.

CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS ARE ALSO BEING SOUGHT TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES ORDINANCE AND THE EDUCATION ORDINANCE THROUGH THE OTHER TWO BILLS INTRODUCED.

DEBATE ON THE THREE BILLS WAS ADJOURNED.

BILL ON MONEY CHANGERS INTRODUCED ****

A BILL PROVIDING SOME MEASURE OF PROTECTION+ FOR CONSUMERS DEALING WITH MONEY CHANGERS, WAS READ A SECOND TIME IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

IN MOVING THE MONEY CHANGERS (DISCLOSURE OF RATES, CHARGES AND COMMISSIONS) BILL 1984, THE SECRETARY FOR ECONOMIC SERVICES, THE HON PIERS JACOBS, SAID, HOWEVER, THAT IT WAS NOT THE GOVERNMENT'S WISH TO IMPOSE UNNECESSARILY BURDENSOME REQUIREMENTS IN RELATION TO NORMAL BUSINESS PRACTICES.

AND TO ALLOW MONEY CHANGERS MORE TIME TO ABSORB THE CONTENTS AND PURPOSE OF THE COMPARATIVELY MILD BILL, IT WAS INTENDED THAT THE SECOND READING SHOULD NOT BE RESUMED UNTIL JANUARY 23 NEXT YEAR.

/+FURTHERMORE, IF