XN000022-1994-04-20 — Page 18

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1994

NEW

FOURTHLY, MR EASON SAID, THE BILL WOULD INTRODUCE A REGISTRATION SYSTEM WHEREBY RENEWAL OF REGISTRATION WOULD BE INITIATED BY AUTHORISED PERSONS, REGISTERED STRUCTURAL ENGINEERS, REGISTERED CONTRACTORS AND REGISTEAKD VENTILATION CONTRACTORS THEMSELVES BY SUBMITTING APPLICATIONS TO THE BUILDING AUTHORITY.

THE BILL WOULD ALSO SEEK TO PROVIDE NEW PROVISIONS FOR REMOVAL AND RESTORING OF NAMES IN THE REGISTERS.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

0

BILL TO GIVE CEMETERY BODY FULL LEGAL POWERS

* * * * *

A BILL THAT SEEKS TO GIVE ALL NECESSARY LEGAL POWERS TO ENABLE THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT OF THE CHINESE PERMANENT CEMETERIES TO OPERATE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY),

CEMETERIES

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE CHINESE PERMANENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, MR MICHAEL SUEN,

SAID THE CHINESE PERMANENT CEMETERIES ORDINANCE WAS ENACTED IN 1964 TO GIVE STATUTORY RECOGNITION TO, AND REGULATE THE PROVISION OF, PERMANENT CEMETERIES FOR PERSONS OF CHINESE RACE PERMANENTLY RESIDENT IN HONG KONG.

BY A SAID.

UP TO THAT TIME THE CEMETERIES CONCERNED HAD BEEN ADMINISTERED BOARD OF MANAGEMENT UNDER VARIOUS DEEDS OF APPROPRIATION, HE

THE

ORDINANCE

ESTABLISHED THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT AS A BODY CORPORATE WITH VARIOUS POWERS OF ADMINISTRATION AND REGULATION WITH RESPECT TO THE CEMETERIES GOVERNED BY IT.

ADMINISTERS FOUR CEMETERIES

TODAY, THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT WHICH IN TOTAL COMPRISE ABOUT 65,000 BURIAL PLOTS AND MORE THAN 110,000 NICHES.

"A FURTHER 15,000 OR SO BURIAL PLOTS AND 91,000 NICHES ARE DUE BE AVAILABLE WHEN LATER PHASES OF THE CEMETERY AT JUNK BAY ARE BROUGHT INTO USE IN THE NEXT THREE YEARS, MR SUEN SAID.

TO

中申

GIVEN SUCH A LARGE OPERATION PROVIDING AN ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SERVICE, MR SUEN STRESSED THAT IT WAS CLEARLY DESIRABLE THAT THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT SHOULD HAVE ALL NECESSARY LEGAL POWERS то OPERATE EFFICIENTLY AND EFFECTIVELY.

THESE NEW POWERS, HE SAID, WERE ALREADY SUCCESSFULLY ENJOYED BY SIMILAR BODIES SUPERVISED BY THE HOME AFFAIRS BRANCH, SUCH AS THE SIR EDWARD YOUDE MEMORIAL FUND COMMITTEE AND THE BREWIN TRUST FUND COMMITTEE.

THE BILL PROVIDES FOR THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT ΤΟ TRANSACT BUSINESS BY CIRCULATION OF PAPERS, TO APPOINT A PROFESSIONAL FUND NANAGER TO MANAGE THE INVESTMENT OF ITS MONEYS AND TO INVEST IN SUCH INVESTMENTS AS IT THINKS FIT.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.