XN000022-1993-02-10 — Page 31

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1993

**WE WILL ALSO NEED TO FIND NEW MARKETS, TO REDUCE OUR DEPENDENCE ON SOME EXISTING MARKETS AND TO CONTINUE TO LOBBY AGAINST EVER PRESENT THREAT OF PROTECTIONISM IN THE MARKETS ON WHICH WE HAVE TRADITIONALLY RELIED SUCH AS THE US AND EUROPE," MRS CHAN SAID.

THE

SHE SAID A STRONG COMMITMENT TO INCREASING LIBERALISATION IN WORLD TRADE, BEGINNING WITH THE LONG OVERDUE CONCLUSION TO THE CURRENT URUGUAY ROUND OF GATT TALKS WOULD BE A POTENT TONIC.

WORKSHOP FOR IMPLEMENTING ILO CONVENTION ON CONSTRUCTION SAFETY * * * * * * *

A

ACHIEVABLE (ILO)

WORKSHOP IS BEING HELD IN HONG KONG TO LOOK INTO FOR IMPLEMENTING THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION CONVENTION ON SAFETY AND HEALTH IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.

STEPS

THE THREE-DAY WORKSHOP, ORGANISED WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE ILO AS PART OF THE ASIAN REGIONAL PROGRAMME ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH, STARTED TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MORE THAN 20 PARTICIPANTS WITH TRIPARTITE BALANCE ATTENDED THE WORKSHOP. THEY INCLUDE THREE FLO OFFICIALS AND REPRESENTATIVES FROM GOVERNMENT POLICY BRANCHES, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL, EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES.

"WE

ARE PLEASED TO BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN THE WORKSHOP AS THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE DIVISION ALWAYS WANT ΤΟ SEE WORKERS WORKING IN A BETTER AND SAFER WORKING ENVIRONMENT, ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS, THE CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT MR CHAN TAT-KING SAID.

MR CHAN NOTED THAT THE OBJECTIVE OF THE CONVENTION WAS AIMED AT MAINTAINING HIGH STANDARDS OF SAFETY AND HFALTH JN THE WORKING ENVIRONMENT IN CONSTRUCTION SITES.

TO TACKLE HAZARDOUS LADDERS, LIFTING HEIGHT, EXCAVATION

"IT ENLISTS ALL THE MEASURES NECESSARY PROCESSES AND WORKPLACES WHICH INCLUDE SCAFFOLDS, APPLIANCES, EARTH-MOVING EQUIPMENTS, WORKING AT WORK,

EARTHWORKS, UNDERGROUND WORKS, CAISSON WORK, STRUCTURAL FRAMES AND FORMWORK, DEMOLITION, ELECTRICITY, HANDLING OF HEALTH HAZARDS,

++

EXPLOSIVES, AND

HE SAID.

"THE CONVENTION ALSO REQUIRES THE ADOPTION OF ALL NECESSARY MEASURES, INCLUDING THE PROVISION OF APPROPRIATE PENALTIES AND CORRECTIVE MEASURES, TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE ENFORCEMENT, HE ADDED.

"

DURING THE WORKSHOP, THERE WILL BE GROUP DISCUSSIONS PLENARY SESSIONS TO ENABLE PARTICIPANTS TO SET DOWN PRACTICABLE STEPS NECESSARY FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION IN HONG KONG.

AND

/PARTICIPANTS WILL