XN000022-1995-12-06 — Page 20

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(a) whether the Government has any systems to monitor the structural safety of buildings and industrial safety at construction sites; if so, what are the details of such systems and why the accidents mentioned above still occur despite the existence of such systems;

(b) whether the Government will review the existing systems to find out if any loopholes exist;

(c) whether there are any cases where civil servants who have been negligent in enforcing the systems have been reprimanded or disciplined; and

(d) whether the Buildings Department will consider making the register of building contractors and the register of building owners available for public inspection, so that after the occurrence of accidents involving the collapse of external walls or canopies of buildings the public can pursue the question of liability with the contractors and the building owners concerned?

Reply:

Mr President,

(a) The structural safety of private buildings and industrial safety at construction sites are governed by the Buildings Ordinance and the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and their subsidiary regulations. The Buildings Ordinance and its regulations place certain statutory responsibilities on building owners, authorised persons, registered structural engineers and registered contractors. It also requires buildings and sites with works in progress to comply with standards of health and safety, in regard to workers at site and members of the public. The Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and its regulations protect employees' safety and health in industrial undertakings including construction and demolition sites. They lay down minimum safety and health standards. They also require proprietors and contractors to provide safety training, protective equipment and supervision for their employees.

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