XN000022-1994-01-31 — Page 2

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MONDAY, JANUARY 31, 1994

CONTROL OVER PLUG AND ADAPTOR SAFETY PROPOSED

THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT (EMSD) HAS MADE PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF PLUGS AND ADAPTORS.

DETAILS ARE SET OUT IN A CONSULTATION PAPER ISSUED BY THE DEPARTMENT TODAY (MONDAY) TO MORE THAN

50 INTERESTED ORGANISATIONS, INVITING THEIR COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) REGULATIONS.

EXPLAINING THE PROPOSALS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE. THE CHIEF ENGINEER OF THE DEPARTMENT'S LEGISLATION ENFORCEMENT DIVISION, MR JOHN CHAN, SAID THE OBJECTIVE OF THE PROPOSALS WAS ΤΟ ENSURE THAT PLUGS AND ADAPTORS ON SALE LOCALLY WERE SAFE.

"MANY PLUGS AND ADAPTORS ON THE LOCAL MARKET HAVE -FAILED TO PASS SAFETY TESTS AND IT IS NOW ESSENTIAL THAT MEASURES SHOULD BE TAKEN AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION, HE ADDED.

"

THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS WILL REQUIRE PLUGS AND ADAPTORS FOR HOUSEHOLD USE IN HONG KONG TO COMPLY WITH THE APPLICABLE SAFETY REQUIREMENTS IN THE RELEVANT BRITISH STANDARDS.

"THIS IS TO ENSURE THAT THEY ARE UP TO AN ADEQUATE SAFETY STANDARD AND OF DIMENSIONS AND CONFIGURATION MATCHING THE SOCKET AND WIRING SYSTEM OF HONG KONG, MR CHAN SAID.

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HE NOTED THAT THE SALE OR HIRE OF THOSE NOT MEETING THESE REQUIREMENTS WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED. THIS COVERS THE FOLLOWING PRODUCTS:

* TWO-PIN PLUGS, EXCEPT THOSE FOR CONNECTION TO SHAVER SUPPLY

UNITS;

* TWO-PIN ADAPTORS; AND

* MULTI-PURPOSE ADAPTORS WHICH ADAPT SEVERAL SIZES OF TWO-PIN

AND THREE-PIN PLUGS SIMULTANEOUSLY TO A SINGLE SOCKET.

UNDER THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS, HOUSEHOLD ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS FOR USE IN HONG KONG AND DESIGNED TO BE CONNECTED

то A SOCKET WILL HAVE TO BE FITTED WITH A PLUG OF CORRECT RATING WHICH COMPLIES WITH THE PRESCRIBED SAFETY STANDARDS.

THE SALE OR HIRE OF HOUSEHOLD ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS NOT MEETING WITH THIS REQUIREMENT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED.

HOWEVER, MR CHAN NOTED THAT AFTER THE REGULATIONS CAME INTO EFFECT, THE USE OF ANY PLUG OR ADAPTOR WHICH DID NOT MEET THE PRESCRIBED SAFETY STANDARDS, AND ANY HOUSEHOLD ELECTRICAL PRODUCT WHICH WAS NOT FITTED WITH A PLUG COMPLYING WITH THE PRESCRIBED STANDARDS WOULD NOT CONTRAVENE THE REGULATIONS.

SAFETY

IN

WOULD USE,

"I

"ENFORCEMENT OF A PROVISION AGAINST USE OF SUCH PRODUCTS BE QUITE IMPRACTICAL CONSIDERING THE LARGE NUMBER CURRENTLY HE EXPLAINED.

/MR CHAN