XN000022-1993-10-13 — Page 33

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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1993

OF

TO

"VERY SERIOUS OFFENCES" ARE THOSE WHICH MAY CAUSE IMMINENT RISK FATALITY OR VERY SERIOUS BODILY INJURY SUCH AS LACK OF PROTECTION PREVENT FALLING FROM HEIGHT, OUTBREAK OF EXPLOSION AND GRAVE FIRE

HAZARDS.

THE BILL ALSO PROPOSED TO EMPOWER THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR TO ISSUE CODES OF PRACTICE.

MR LEUNG SAID: "THE CURRENT SAFETY AND HEALTH REGULATIONS PROVIDE FOR SAFETY REQUIREMENTS BUT MAY NOT CONTAIN SUFFICIENT DETAILS ON PROCEDURES AND STANDARDS FOR EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS TO FOLLOW."

CODES

E

TO SUPPLEMENT THE LEGAL PROVISIONS, IT IS DESIRABLE TO PREPARE OF PRACTICE, WRITTEN IN LAYMAN'S LANGUAGE, ON SPECIFIC REGULATIONS OR SUBJECTS TO PROVIDE FOR PRECISE STANDARDS AND PRACTICAL GUIDANCE.

"FAILURE TO OBSERVE A PROVISION OF THE CODES OF PRACTICE SHALL NOT BY ITSELF RENDER A PERSON LIABLE TO CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS, BUT IN ANY CRIMINAL PROCEEDINGS, THE COURT OR MAGISTRATE MAY TAKE INTO ACCOUNT ANY PROVISION OF A CODE OF PRACTICE WHICH APPEARS ΤΟ BE RELEVANT TO ANY LIABILITY IN QUESTION, HE ADDED.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

MORE POWER FOR LABOUR CHIEF PROPOSED

A BILL THAT SEEKS TO EMPOWER THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR то MAKE REGULATIONS UNDER THE BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS ORDINANCE WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

VESSELS

MR

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BOILERS AND PRESSURE (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MICHAEL LEUNG, SAID UNDER THE BILL, THE POWER OF THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL TO MAKE REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE SAFETY STANDARDS, NUMBERING OF BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS, CONTROL OF THEIR OPERATION AND FEES WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THE BOILERS AND PRESSURE VESSELS AUTHORITY WHO IS AT PRESENT THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR.

THE AUTHORITY IS ALREADY GIVEN THE POWER ΤΟ MAKE OTHER SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION UNDER THE EXISTING ORDINANCE, NAMELY, ΤΟ PRESCRIBE THE FORM OF A CERTIFICATE OF FITNESS AND A CERTIFICATE OF COMPETENCY AND OF ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENT, MR LEUNG SAID.

"THE BILL, IF APPROVED, WOULD REDUCE THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL'S WORKLOAD IN MAKING SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION OF A TECHNICAL NATURE," HE ADDED.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

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