XN000022-1993-06-02 — Page 27

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 1993

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HA'S PATIENTS ARE THE MAIN USERS OF NON-EMERGENCY AMBULANCE SERVICE PROVIDED BY THE FSD. THEY CONSTITUTE ABOUT 90 PER CENT OF SUCH CALLS.

THE GOVERNMENT HAS EARLIER DECIDED THAT THE FSD WOULD GRADUALLY WITHDRAW FROM THE PROVISION OF SUCH SERVICE TO ENABLE THE DEPARTMENT TO MAKE BETTER USE OF ITS RESOURCES AND TO FOCUS ON ITS PRIMARY ROLE AS THE PROVIDER OF EMERGENCY SERVICES.

UNDER THE PROPOSED ARRANGEMENT, THE HA HAS AGREED TO CONTRACT OUT THIS SERVICE FOR ITS PATIENTS IN STAGES, STARTING WITH HONG KONG ISLAND ON

OCTOBER 1 THIS YEAR, KOWLOON ON JANUARY 1 NEXT YEAR AND

FINALLY THE NEW TERRITORIES ON APRIL 1, 1995.

MEASURES TAKEN TO REDUCE AIRPORT PROJECT INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS

*

THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN A SERIES OF MEASURES TO REDUCE THE HAZARDS OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS IN CONNECTION WITH THE AIRPORT CORE PROGRAMME (ACP) PROJECTS, THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS, MR JAMES BLAKE, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON TANG SIU-TONG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR BLAKE SAID THE WORKS BRANCH WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ISSUED AN ACP CONSTRUCTION SAFETY MANUAL IN 1992.

THE MANUAL, STATING IN DETAIL REQUIREMENTS WHICH WOULD ENSURE THE BEST SAFETY PRACTICES FOR ACP, WAS DISTRIBUTED ΤΟ ALL PARTIES INVOLVED IN ACP PROJECTS INCLUDING WORKS DEPARTMENTS, CONSULTING ENGINEERS, CONTRACTORS AND WORKER UNIONS.

AN ACP CONSTRUCTION SAFETY STEERING COMMITTEE CHAIRED BY THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS WAS ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE POLICY GUIDANCE AND

TO ADDRESS ACP-WIDE CONSTRUCTION SAFETY ISSUES.

WHILE A SITE SAFETY MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE AND A SITE SAFETY COMMITTEE ARE FORMED FOR EACH ACP SITE, A SAFETY MANAGEMENT UNIT HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN THE WORKS BRANCH TO VISIT AND REGULARLY AUDIT ACP SITES AND THEIR SAFETY STANDARDS.

CONTRACTORS' SAFETY AT REQUIREMENTS

SAFETY TEAM

MR BLAKE SAID OTHER MEASURES INCLUDED CONSIDERING PAST PERFORMANCE AND COMMITMENT ΤΟ CONSTRUCTION PREQUALIFICATION AND TENDERING STAGES, INCLUDING SAFETY INTO ACP CONTRACTS, ORGANISING SAFETY TRAINING COURSES, BUILDING UP A CONSTRUCTION ACCIDENT DATABASE AND CREATING A SPECIAL UNDER THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

499

MR BLAKE SAID UP TO APRIL 30, 1993 THERE WERE 501 INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS ON ACP PROJECTS IN WHICH THREE WORKERS WERE KILLED AND WERE INJURED.

/THE OVERALL