WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1994
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NEW LAW ON SAFE GONDOLAS
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THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) APPROVED A REGULATION PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURES ON SUSPENDED WORKING PLATFORMS, COMMONLY KNOWN AS GONDOLAS .
MOVING A MOTION ON THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (SUSPENDED WORKING PLATFORMS) REGULATION, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, SAID IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS, THERE WERE 18 GONDOLA ACCIDENTS RESULTING IN TWO FATALITIES AND 17 INJURIES.
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MR LEUNG SAID IN RECENT YEARS THERE HAD BEEN AN INCREASING USE OF GONDOLAS FOR CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE AND EXTERNAL CLEANSING WORK ON HIGH-RISE BUILDINGS.
HOWEVER, THE EXISTING PROVISIONS ARE NEITHER SPECIFIC NOR STRINGENT ENOUGH TO ENSURE THEIR SAFE OPERATION,
UNDER THE NEW REGULATION, THE OWNER OF A SUS ENDED WORKING PLATFORM MUST ENSURE ITS GOOD DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION AND PROPER OPERATION.
ADDITIONAL SAFETY ROPES FITTED WITH
AUTOMATIC
DEVICE MUST BE PROVIDED.
FALL-ARRESTING
ALSO, A SUSPENDED
INSPECTED BY A COMPETENT
PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER.
WORKING
PLATFORM MUST BE PERIODICALLY PERSON AND EXAMINED BY A REGISTERED
THE NEW LAW PROHIBITS THE OPERATION OF A GONDOLA IN BAD WEATHER AND REQUIRES EVERY WORKER ON IT TO WEAR A SAFETY BELT AND KEEP IT ATTACHED TO AN INDEPENDENT LIFELINE.
THE NEW REGULATION WILL BE BROUGHT INTO EFFECT IN 12 MONTHS IN ORDER TO ALLOW TIME FOR OWNERS OF SUSPENDED WORKING PLATFORMS TO MAKE THE NECESSARY MODIFICATIONS AND INSTALL ADDITIONAL SAFETY DEVICES.
GOVT WILL UPHOLD RIGHT TO PRIVACY
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PRIVACY
THE GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO UPHOLDING THE RIGHT TO AND HAS RIGOROUS SAFEGUARDS AGAINST ABUSE OF TELECOMMUNICATION INTERCEPTION BUILT INTO ITS PROCEDURES.
THIS WAS REITERATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, MR ALISTAIR ASPREY, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHRISTINE LOH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN
ON FURTHER IMPROVEMENT OF THE EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS, MR ASPREY SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD ASKED THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION TO ADDRESS THE WHOLE ISSUE OF PRIVACY, INCLUDING TELEPHONE INTERCEPTION.
"WHEN THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION REPORTS, WE WILL CONSIDER THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WHETHER CHANGES ARE REQUIRED, HE SAID,
...
/MR ASPREY
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