XN000022-1993-09-28 — Page 14

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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1993

TO HELP TRADERS OVERCOME THE TIME-CONSUMING PROCESS OF PREPARING EXPORT DOCUMENTATION, THE TRADE DEPARTMENT WAS COMMITTED то PROCESSING EXPORT LICENCE APPLICATIONS AND OTHER DOCUMENTS EXPEDITIOUSLY AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT COMPROMISING THE INTEGRITY OF TRADE CONTROL SYSTEMS, HE ADDED.

IN THE NEAR FUTURE, THE PROCESSING OF EXPORT BE FURTHER FACILITATED THROUGH IMPLEMENTATION OF AN INTERCHANGE SYSTEM.

AS

THE

DOCUMENTS WOULD ELECTRONIC DATA

UNDER THE SYSTEM, TRADERS WILL BE ABLE TO COMPLETE EXPORT PROCEDURES THROUGH THE TRANSMISSION OF ELECTRONIC

DOCUMENTATION MESSAGES.

MR CHAU PAID TRIBUTE TO THE INVALUABLE CONTRIBUTION OF MEMBERS OF THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD, PAST AND PRESENT.

"THEY HAVE GIVEN FREELY OF THEIR TIME AND ATTENTION AND WERE PRESENT TO PROVIDE ON-THE-SPOT ADVICE TO OUR NEGOTIATORS IN ALL OUR MAJOR NEGOTIATIONS.

"THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD IS AN EXCELLENT EXAMPLE OF CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, IN PURSUIT OF THE GREATER GOOD," HE SAID.

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420 SUMMONSES ISSUED ON MACHINE SAFETY

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FACTORY INSPECTORS OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ISSUED 420 SUMMONSES AGAINST PROPRIETORS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE LAW SAFEGUARDING WORKERS' SAFETY, DURING A RECENTLY CONCLUDED MACHINERY AND SUMMER JOB SAFETY CAMPAIGN.

"THE DEPARTMENT IS DETERMINED TO TAKE VIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST UNSCRUPULOUS EMPLOYERS WHO NEGLECTED THEIR STATUTORY OBLIGATION TO PROTECT WORKERS FROM POTENTIAL HAZARDS, DEPUTY CHIEF FACTORY INSPECTOR, MR KAN HON-SANG, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY).

"THIS CAN BE REFLECTED BY THE 398 SUMMONSES TAKEN OUT DURING A SIMILAR CAMPAIGN CONDUCTED LAST YEAR, HE SAID.

MR KAN POINTED OUT THAT ALTHOUGH THE NUMBER OF ACCIDENTS RESULTING FROM THE USE OF MACHINERY HAD BEEN DECLINING FROM SOME 8,800 IN 1988 TO ABOUT 4,100 LAST YEAR, EMPLOYERS HAVE THE DUTY TO PROVIDE PROPER MAINTENANCE OF GUARDS AS WELL AS INFORMATION POTENTIAL HAZARDS, SUPERVISION AND TRAINING TO MACHINE OPERATORS.

OF

"IT IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO LEAVE A MACHINE UNGUARDED OR INADEQUATELY GUARDED. EVEN THE MOST EXPERIENCED OPERATORS CAN MAKE MISTAKES.

HE

"DANGEROUS PARTS OF MACHINES, IF NOT PROPERLY GUARDED, OFTEN CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS RESULTING IN LOSS OF LIMBS OR EVEN DEATHS," SAID.

/SOME MACHINES