XN000022-1985-07-10 — Page 19

WEDNESDAY, JULY 10, 1985

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IT FURTHER PROPOSES THAT ALL OTHER NOTIFIABLE WORKPLACES WHICH WERE ALREADY ON THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE'S RECORDS BEFORE THE NEW BILL CAME INTO EFFECT WOULD BE EXEMPTED FROM NOTIFICATION AND THE PROPRIETORS WOULD BE SO INFORMED INDIVIDUALLY WITHIN SIX MONTHS.

MR CHEN SAID THE PURPOSE OF THE EXISTING REGISTRATION SYSTEM, FIRST INTRODUCED IN 1955, WAS TO ENSURE THAT THE WORKPLACE WAS INSPECTED AND THAT ADEQUATE SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE STANDARDS WERE MAINTAINED.

+DEVELOPMENTS SINCE THEN HAVE CONSIDERABLY REDUCED THE USEFULNESS OF THE REGISTRATION SYSTEM. DURING THE LAST TWO DECADES 21 SETS OF SAFETY REGULATIONS HAVE BEEN ENACTED UNDER THE FACTOR IES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE, AND IT IS NOW NO LONGER NECESSARY TO RELY ON ENFORCEMENT OF THE REGISTRATI REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE STANDARDS IN WORKPLACES,+ HE SAID.

MR CHEN SAID THE NEW SIMPLIFIED SYSTEM OF NOTIFICATION WOULD DO AWAY WITH SOME TIME-CONSUMING PROCEDURES AND ENABLE THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE TO CONCENTRATE ON MORE IMPORTANT WORK SUCH AS ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION, FACTORY INSPECTION AND SAFETY AND HEALTH PROMOTION.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

DELETION OF CLAUSE 60 IN BILL PROPOSED

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IT WAS REGRETTABLE THAT SOME DISTRICT BOARDS WERE NOT ADVISED OF THE INTENTION THAT THE NINE REPRESENTATIVE MEMBERS ELECTED FROM DBS TO THE PROVISIONAL REGIONAL COUNCIL SHOULD CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THE REGIONAL COUNCIL UPON ITS INCEPTION.

THIS WAS SAID BY THE HON F.K. HU DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE REGIONAL COUNCIL BILL 1985 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

HE SAID HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THE GREAT MAJORITY OF DBS WERE ADVISED OF THIS INTENTION BEFORE THE ELECTION OF REPRESENTATIVE MEMBERS TO THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL.

SINCE PUBLICATION OF THE BILL. THERE HAD BEEN REPRESENTATIONS FROM SOME DB MEMBERS WHO OBJECTED TO CLAUSE 60, WHICH DEALT WITH THE AUTOMATIC EXTENSION OF TENURE OF OFFICE FOR THE NINE REPRESENTATIVE MEMBERS ON THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL FOR ANOTHER TWO YEARS ON THE NEW COUNCIL, ON THE GROUND THAT IT DEPRIVED DB MEMBERS OF THEIR RIGHT TO ELECT THE IR OWN REPRESENTATIVE MEMBERS.

+THESE DB MEMBERS EMPHASISED THAT THEIR OBJECTION WAS A MATTER OF PRINCIPLE AND NOT DIRECTED AT THEIR OWN ELECTED REPRESENTATIVE MEMBERS SERVING ON THE PROVISIONAL COUNCIL AT PRESENT, MR HU SAI..

/HE SAID