XN000022-1985-07-24 — Page 23

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, 145

+SEPARATELY, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE IS EXAMINING THE EFFECTS OF THIS BILL ON THE FINANCING CF SOCIAL

OLUB WELFARE PROJECTS BY THE LOTTERIES FUND, AS IS THE CLUE IN CONSIDERING WAYS AND MEANS OF IMPROVING THE OVERALL TURNOVER OF MARK VI LOTTERIES, WHICH WILL AS A CONSEQUENCE, INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS AVAILABLE EACH YEAR FOR SOCIAL WELFARE PROJECTS, MR HSU SAID.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

FIRE PRECAUTION REGULATIONS SIMPLIFIED

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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED A MOTION TO AMEND THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (FIRE PRECAUTIONS IN REGISTRABLE WORKPLACES) REGULATIONS TO MAKE IT EASIER FOR FACTORY PROPRIETORS TO COMPLY WITH THEM AND FOR THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE TO ENFORCE THEM.

MOVING THE MOTION, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE

HON DARWIN CHEN, SAID THAT SINCE THE REGULATIONS CAME INTO OPERATION IN 1981, EXPERIENCE HAD SHOWN THAT SOME OF THE PROVISIONS WERE UNCLEAR AND DIFFICULT TO INTERPRET.

MR CHEN POINTED OUT THAT EXISTING REGULATION 4(1)(D) REQUIRED EVERY DOOR LEADING OUT OF A REGISTRABLE WORKPLACE TO HAVE A FIRE RESISTING PERIOD OF AT LEAST HALF AN HOUR.

+ IN CASES WHERE THE MATERIAL OF THE DOOR NEEDS TO BE TESTED TO DETERMINE ITS FIRE RESISTING PERIOD, DIFFICULTIES HAVE ARISEN, HE SAID.

THE AMENDED REGULATIONS, HE CONTINUED, SPECIFIES THE TYPES OF DOORS WHICH ARE ACCEPTABLE BY REFERENCE TO MATERIAL, THICKNESS AND STANDARD OF CONSTRUCTION, BUT DOES NOT ALTER THE FIRE RESISTANCE STANDARD REQUIRED.

MR CHEN SAID THE REGULATION WAS ALSO AMENDED TO MAKE CLEAR THAT EVERY DOOR LEADING OUT OF A REGISTRABLE WORKPLACE, OTHER THAN A SLIDING DOOR, MUST OPEN OUTWARDS WITHOUT REDUCING THE EFFECTIVE WIDTH OF ANY MEANS OF ESCAPE, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE SIZE OF THE WORKFORCE.

OTHER AMENDMENT, HE ADDED, PROVIDES THAT A PROPRIETOR MAY BE PROSECUTED IF HE ALLOWS ANY UNAUTHORISED ALTERATION OR ADDITION WHICH SERIOUSLY AFFECTS THE FIRE SAFETY OF HIS WORKPLACE TO CONTINUE.

UNDER THE EXISTING WORDING OF THE REGULATIONS, THE PROPRIETOR COULD NOT BE PROSECUTED IF THE ALTERATION OR ADDITION WAS CARRIED OUT MORE THAN SIX MONTHS BEFORE DISCOVERY, HE SAID.

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