XN000022-1994-09-28 — Page 4

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1994

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ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NEW ORDINANCE, MRS BOSHER SAID THE OF THE ECONOMIC SERVICES BRANCH WAS NOW WORKING ON THE SECOND DRAFT BILL. THE INDUSTRY WILL BE CONSULTED AROUND THE TURN OF THE YEAR.

"OUR AIM IS TO PUT FORWARD THE BILL TO THE LEGISLATIVE FOR CONSIDERATION BY THE END OF THE FIRST QUARTER OF 1995.

COUNCIL

THE

LOCAL

"WE HOPE IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO ENACT THE NEW ORDINANCE BY MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR TO PROVIDE A SOUND BASIS FOR THE LAUNCH OF FIXED NETWORK SERVICES COMPETITION IN JULY 1995 AND A SOLID FOUNDATION FOR THE SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG'S TELECOMMUNICATIONS INTO THE 21ST CENTURY, SHE SAID.

*

TIGHTER CONTROL ON HAND-DUG CAISSON

A BILL

WHICH SEEKS TO PROVIDE

HEALTH SAFETY AND BETTER

GROUND INVESTIGATION, AND PROTECTION TO CAISSON WORKERS ENGAGED IN SEWAGE TUNNELLING WORK WILL BE GAZETTED ON FRIDAY (SEPTEMBER 30).

THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL 1994 SEEKS TO EMPOWER THE BUILDING AUTHORITY TO REFUSE PROPOSALS FOR HAND-DUG CAISSONS DEEPER THAN THREE METRES EXCEPT IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT OTHER ALTERNATIVE ENGINEERING METHODS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

A

CIRCUMSTANCES GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID IN THE EXCEPTIONAL

HEALTH OF THE THAT A HAND-DUG CAISSON WAS ALLOWED, THE SAFETY AND WORKERS WOULD BE PROTECTED UNDER THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY LEGISLATION.

SPOKESMAN

CONTROL WAS SAID THE NEED TO STEP UP THE

BECAUSE THE ACCIDENT RATE OF HAND-DUG CAISSON OPERATIONS WAS MUCH HIGHER THAN

THERE WERE INHERENT AVERAGE

RATE OF ALL INDUSTRIES, AND ACCIDENT

OF HAZARDS IN

HAND-DUG WORKING ENVIRONMENT

CAISSONS.

THE

WET AND CONFINED

SUSCEPTIBLE OF PROVIDING

ACCORDING TO MEDICAL OPINION, CAISSON WORKERS ARE TO PNEUMOCONIOSIS BECAUSE THERE IS NO EFFECTIVE METHOD FULL PROTECTION AGAINST DUST INHALATION IN A CAISSON SHAFT.

WORKERS MAY BE SUSCEPTIBLE TO HEARING NOISE INSIDE A CAISSON SHAFT.

IMPAIRMENT

THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE OCTOBER 12.

THE BUILDING INDUSTRY WILL BE GIVEN A 12-MONTH BEFORE THE LEGISLATION IS ENFORCED UPON ITS PASSAGE.

CAUSED BY

COUNCIL ON

GRACE PERIOD

INVESTIGATION THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO REQUIRE PLANS FOR GROUND

BE WORKS

THE IN

VICINITY OF SEWAGE TUNNELS TO

SUBMITTED TO THE BUILDING AUTHORITY FOR APPROVAL BEFORE WORKS CAN BE CARRIED OUT.

THIS WILL ENSURE THAT SUCH WORKS ARE UNDER CONTROL PREVENT THE UNDERGROUND SEWAGE TUNNELS FROM BEING DAMAGED.

AND WILL

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