XN000022-1992-02-19 — Page 29

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1992

CONTROL OVER CONTAINER HANDLING ACTIVITIES

A BILL WHICH SEEKS TO BRING OPEN GROUNDS USED FOR STORAGE EMPTY CONTAINERS UNDER CONTROL WAS INTRODUCED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1992, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN, SAID AT PRESENT, PLACES USED FOR LOADING, UNLOADING AND HANDLING CONTAINERS SUCH AS CONTAINER TERMINALS AND DEPOTS WERE WITHIN THE AMBIT OF TRE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE.

"HOWEVER. OPEN GROUNDS USED SOLELY FOR STORAGE OF EMPTY CONTAINERS ARE OUTSIDE THE AMBIT OF THE ORDINANCE.

"MANY OF THESE ARE OPERATED ON UNEVEN LAND IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND EMPTY CONTAINERS ARE STACKED ONE OVER ANOTHER, OFTEN TO A CONSIDERABLE HEIGHT, IN ORDER TO SAVE SPACE," HE SAID.

FOLLOWING A NUMBER OF SERIOUS INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS, AN INTER- DEPARTMENTAL WORKING PARTY WAS SET UP TO REVIEW THE SAFETY ASPECTS OF THE EXISTING SYSTEM OF CONTROL ON CONTAINER HANDLING.

AS A RESULT OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE WORKING PARTY, SUITABLE AMENDMENTS WOULD BE MADE TO THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS IN ORDER TO BRING ALL CONTAINER HANDLING ACTIVITIES UNDER CONTROL.

THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO EXTEND THE COVERAGE OF THE MAIN ORDINANCE BY EXPANDING THE DEFINITION OF "INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKING"

TO INCLUDE CONTAINER HANDLING ACTIVITIES.

IT FURTHER SEEKS TO PROVIDE FOR A DEFINITION OF "CONTAINER" WHICH FOLLOWS CLOSELY THAT USED IN THE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION FOR SAFE CONTAINERS ADOPTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL MARITIME ORGANISATION.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

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