XN000022-1987-07-01 — Page 40

WEDNESDAY, JULY 1, 1987

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ON THE INTRODUCTION OF QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED FOR APPLICANTS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE REGISTERS OF LIFTS AND ESCALATORS ENGINEERS, MR HU SUGGESTED THAT THE PROPOSED REQUIREMENT WOULD APPLY ONLY TO NEW APPLICANTS BUT NOT TO THOSE ENGINEERS ALREADY IN THE REGISTERS.

HE SAID THIS WAS BECAUSE THERE WAS AT PRESENT A SHORTAGE OF REGISTERED ENGINEERS TO DEAL WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF LIFT AND ESCALATOR INSTALLATIONS IN OPERATION.

MR HU ALSO SUGGESTED THE GOVERNMENT TO CARRY OUT APPROPRIATE PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN TO REMIND THE OWNERS OF SERVICE LIFTS, WHICH WERE NOT SUPPLIED AND MAINTAINED BY REGISTERED LIFT CONTRACTORS, OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO PROPERLY MAINTAIN THESE LIFTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RELEVANT PROVISION OF THE BUILDING (LIFTS) REGULATIONS.

FUEL ASH LAGOONS POSE NO HEALTH RISK

*

AFTER CAREFUL STUDY OF CURRENT SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE ON THE PROPOSED PULVERISED FUEL ASH LAGOONS AT TSANG TSUI, THE FORMER ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY CONCLUDED THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE A HEALTH RISK FROM RADIOLOGICAL SOURCES, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND

TOLD THE

COUNCIL WELFARE, THE HON JOHN CHAMBERS

LEGISLATIVE

TODAY

(WEDNESDAY).

NOT

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY PROFESSOR THE HON POON CHUNG KWONG, MR CHAMBERS SAID THIS ASPECT WAS THEREFORE

INCLUDED IN FURTHER

STUDY.

IN 1984, THE GOVERNMENT ASKED THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY TO UNDERTAKE A COMPREHENSIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF THE PROPOSED PULVERISED FUEL ASH LAGOONS AT TSANG TSUI,

"THIS STUDY WAS BASED ON TERMS OF REFERENCE PREPARED BY THE THEN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY," HE ADDED.

MR CHAMBERS SAID THE POSSIBILITY OF RADIOLOGICAL IMPACT ON LOCAL VILLAGERS AND SITE WORKERS HAD BEEN CONSIDERED IN PREPARING THESE TERMS OF REFERENCE.

PUMPING OF PFA INTO THE LAGOONS BEGAN ON JUNE 12 AND THE POWER COMPANY WAS MONITERING RADIOACTIVITY LEVELS AT THE SITE AND THE LEVELS RECORDED SO FAR GAVE NO CAUSE FOR CONCERN, HE SAID.

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