XN000022-1985-01-02 — Page 7

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ON

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 2, 1985

THE PROPOSAL CONTAINED IN THE DISCUSSION PAPER WAS, HOWEVER, INTENDED FOR PUBLIC DEBATE AND THE PUBLIC'S VIEWS WERE INVITED.

THOSE WISHING TO COMMENT ON THE SCHEME WERE ASKED TO SUBMIT THE IR VIEWS IN WRITING TO MR W.R. MARSHALL, ASSISTANT TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, LEGAL DEPARTMENT, CENTRAL GOVERNMENT OFFICES, MAIN WING, LOWER ALBERT ROAD, HONG KONG BY MARCH 31, 1985.

ACTION AGAINST ILLEGAL LIFT OPERATORS

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THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS NOW BEEN EMPOWERED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO CONDUCT PROSECUTIONS AGAINST OWNERS OF ILLEGAL LIFTS.

OPERATING LIFTS WITHOUT PERMITS FROM THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT IS AN OFFENCE PUNISHABLE BY A $5 000 FINE AND SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT.

ONLY TWO TYPES OF LIFTS ARE EXEMPTED FROM THIS LEGAL REQUIREMENT: GOODS LIFTS WITHIN A MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF 250 KG AND MAXIMUM DIMENSIONS OF ONE SQUARE METRE IN FLOOR AREA AND 1.2 METRES IN HEIGHT, AND GOODS LIFTS IN FACTORIES GRANTED SPECIAL EXEMPTION BY THE DEPARTMENT.

+ILLEGAL LIFTS ARE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS BECAUSE USUALLY THEY HAVE NOT BEEN INSTALLED OR MAINTAINED BY REGISTERED LIFT CONTRACTORS. IN MANY CASES, THEY ARE VIRTUAL DEATH TRAPS, + SAID MR GREGORY CHUI, THE DEPARTMENT'S SENIOR ENGINEER RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS ON LIFTS.

SO FAR ILLEGAL LIFTS HAVE BEEN SPOTTED ONLY IN SHOPS, FIRMS AND FACTORIES WHERE THEY WERE USED FOR TRANSPORTING GOODS.

+HOWEVER, IT IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR PEOPLE TO USE THEM WITHOUT REALISING THE RISK INVOLVED, MR CHUI SAID.

STILL FRESH IN MR CHUI'S MIND WAS A FATAL ACCIDENT CAUSED BY AN UNREGISTERED LIFT IN A DRAPERY SHOP IN SHAM SHUI PO A YEAR AGO. TWO OF THE PASSENGERS DIED AND ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED WHEN THE LIFT PLUNGED TO THE GROUND FLOOR.

IN 1984 THE DEPARTMENT LOCATED 49 ILLEGAL LIFTS. ONE OF THE OWNERS WAS FINED $1 500 AND THE REST WERE SERVED WITH PROHIBITION ORDERS TO RECONSTRUCT THEIR LIFTS TO MEET SAFETY STANDARDS, OR IN THE CASE OF FACTORY LIFTS, TO APPLY FOR EXEMPTION.

+ IF AN UNREGISTERED LIFT POSES IMMEDIATE DANGER, THE SUPPLY OF ELECTRICITY WILL BE DISCONNECTED AND THE POWER SEALED OFF AT ONCE,+ HE SAID.

THE SAME PROCESS WILL APPLY TO THOSE LIFTS WHEN NO RESPONSE FROM THE LIFT OWNERS IS RECEIVED WITHIN 42 DAYS OF THE ISSUE OF THE PROHIBITION ORDER.

/BY LAW