XN000022-1986-01-22 — Page 18

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1980

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STRICT CONTROLS ADOPTED OVER LPG STORAGE

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THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, THE HON DONALD LIAO, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) ASSURED THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT THE STORAGE OF LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS (LPG) FOR SALE OR OTHER PURPOSES IS STRICTLY CONTROLLED.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON LEE YU-TAI, MR LIAO SAID ANY PERSON WISHING TO STORE QUANTITIES OF LPG IN EXCESS OF 50 KILOGRAMES, OR 25 KILOGRAMES IN GAS CARTRIDGES OR LIGHTER REFILLS, HAD TO APPLY TO THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES FOR LICENCE TO DO SO.

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+BEFORE ISSUING SUCH A LICENCE THE DIRECTOR ENSURES THAT ADEQUATE SAFETY MEASURES HAVE BEEN TAKEN, AND HE ALSO SPECIFIES IN THE LICENCE THE MAXIMUM QUANTITY OF LPG THAT MAY BE STORED BY THE LICENSEE, HE SAID.

+LPG STORES ARE INSPECTED ANNUALLY PRIOR TO THE RENEWAL OF LICENCES, HE ADDED.

+IN ADDITION, THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT UNDERTAKES AREA SURVEYS FROM TIME TO TIME SUBJECT TO MANPOWER AVAILABILITY, DURING WHICH CHECKS ARE MADE TO ENSURE THAT PERSONS STORING LPG. HÄVE VALID LICENCES AND THAT QUANTITIES STORED DO NOT EXCEED PERMITTED LIMITS,+ MR LAIO SAID.

HE NOTED THAT ANYONE IGNORING THE LICENSING REQUIREMENT WERE SUBJECT TO PROSECUTION, WITH A MAXIMUM PENALTY OF A FINE OF $25 000 AND SIX MONTHS IMPRISONMENT.

LAST YEAR, THERE WERE 25 PROSECUTIONS FOR OFFENCES ARISING FROM THE STORAGE OF LPG, HE SAID.

MR LIAO ADDED THAT IN 1985 THERE WERE ONLY 22 FIRES (0.15 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL) WHERE THE CAUSE OF IGNITION WAS IDENTIFIED AS LPG, AND OF THESE ONLY THREE (0.02 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL) TOOK PLACE IN SHOPS.

THE CORRESPONDING FIGURES FOR 1984 WERE 23 AND NIL.

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