XN000022-1992-05-06 — Page 27

+

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 1992

25

FIRE RETARDANT AGENTS NO RISK TO HEALTH

CHEMICALS COMMONLY CONTAINED IN FIRE RETARDANT AGENTS ARE NOT HAZARDOUS TO HEALTH OR TO THE ENVIRONMENT WHEN PROPERLY USED UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON HOWARD YOUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

A CODE OF PRACTICE PUBLISHED BY THE DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES REQUIRES THE USE OF FIRE RETARDANT PRODUCTS AS LININGS FOR ACOUSTIC, DECORATIVE AND THERMAL INSULATION IN DUCTINGS, CONCEALED LOCATIONS AND PROTECTED MEANS OF ESCAPE IN BUILDINGS.

MR ASPREY SAID 'COMPLIANCE WITH THE CODE WAS A REQUIREMENT BEFORE THE ISSUANCE OF AN OCCUPATION PERMIT BY THE BUILDING AUTHORITY.

ALTHOUGH GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS ARE EXEMPTED FROM THE ORDINANCE, THE CODE IS APPLIED EQUALLY TO GOVERNMENT GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS AS A MATTER OF POLICY.

BUILDINGS

NON-

:

AND

CEILINGS,

ALSO, WHERE COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS ARE USED AS FALSE DRAPERIES OR CURTAINS IN PLACES OF PUBLIC ASSEMBLY LICENSED UNDER THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND MUNICIPAL SERVICES ORDINANCE OR PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT ORDINANCE, THESE ITEMS ARE REQUIRED BY THE CODE TO BE TREATED WITH FIRE RETARDANT AGENTS.

BY A

MR ASPREY SAID THE REQUIRED TREATMENT MUST BE CERTIFIED FIRE SERVICE INSTALLATION CONTRACTOR REGISTERED UNDER THE FIRE SERVICES (INSTALLATION CONTRACTORS) REGULATIONS, WHO WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT FIRE RETARDANT PRODUCTS WERE APPROVED BY THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND WERE USED AND APPLIED PROPERLY.

FIRE RETARDANT AGENTS ARE NORMALLY APPLIED IN THE COURSE OF MANUFACTURING.

THE MANUFACTURING OF FIRE RETARDANT PRODUCTS IS GOVERNED BY INDUSTRIAL SAFETY REQUIREMENTS ENFORCED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

ALTERNATIVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES TO RELIEVE MTR CONGESTION

本

ALTERNATIVE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SERVICES WILL BE FURTHER STRENGTHENED AS PART OF THE MEASURES TO HELP RELIEVE CONGESTION ALONG THE MTR NATHAN ROAD CORRIDOR.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON EMILY LAU IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

/OVER THE