XN000022-1988-06-15 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1988

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9

FOR

ON A PROPOSAL THAT CUSTODIAL SENTENCES BE CONSIDERED CERTAIN OFFENCES UNDER THE REGULATIONS, MR BRIDGE SAID THIS WOULD BE DONE IN THE CONTEXT OF A SIMILAR PROPOSAL IN RELATION то OFFENCES UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE.

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION, PUBLICITY AND MONITORING, MR BRIDGE SAID THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD ENSURE THAT THE REGULATIONS WERE ADEQUATELY PUBLICISED.

"WE WILL ALSO MONITOR THEIR EFFECTIVENESS INTRODUCE APPROPRIATE IMPROVEMENTS, HE ADDED.

THE MOTION WAS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL.

AND, IF NECESSARY,

NEW RULES ON INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS SUPPORTED

FACTORIES STEP BY THE PROF THE HON

AND

NEW REGULATIONS WHICH PROVIDE FOR THE LABELLING AS WELL AS SAFE USE AND HANDLING OF DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT GOVERNMENT TO LEGISLATE FOR THE PROTECTION OF WORKERS, POON CHUNG-KWONG SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

PROF POON WAS SPEAKING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN SUPPORT OF A MOTION THAT THE COUNCIL APPROVE THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES) REGULATIONS 1988.

SCRUTINISE THE BILL

HE SAID THE LEGCO AD HOC GROUP SET UP TO HAD BEEN AT ALL TIMES CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO HAVE THE REGULATIONS ENACTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO AS TO GIVE PROPER PROTECTION TO WORKERS IN THEIR DAY-TO-DAY HANDLING OF DANGEROUS CHEMICALS.

THE AD HOC GROUP, OF WHICH AGREEMENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT ON REGULATIONS.

HE WAS CONVENER, HAD REACHED CERTAIN AMENDMENTS TO THE

ONE AMENDMENT WAS THE DELETION OF A PROVISION WHICH EXEMPTED BONA FIDE LABORATORIES FROM THE REGULATIONS,

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'MEMBERS IN THE AD HOC GROUP AS WELL AS THE REPRESENTATIVES MET WERK OF THE VIEW THAT IT WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE то EXEMPT SUCH LABORATORIES AND MAY LEAD TO CONFUSION IF THE TERM COULD NOT BE CLEARLY DEFINED BY LEGISLATION," HE SAID.

PROF POON ALSO SAID THAT ALL THE ORGANISATIONS WHICH MADE REPRESENTATION TO THE AD HOC GROUP FELT THAT THE LISTING OF 231 CHEMICALS IN THE REGULATIONS WAS INSUFFICIENT AND SHOULD BE EXPANDED.

/HE NOTED