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Some products, for example, lampholders, flexible cords and extension units, which frequently bring the public into close proximity with live terminals or conductors, and unvented thermal storage type electric water heaters, will have to comply with specific safety requirements.

All of the safety requirements are based on well established and widely recognised international standards.

The supplier of a household electrical product will be responsible for ensuring that the product complies with the safety requirements. A product will have to be certified that it meets the relevant safety requirements before it can be supplied. This will be done by requiring issue of a certificate in respect of the product model concerned. The certificate may be issued by a certification body or a manufacturer recognised for that purpose.

Mr President, over the past four years, 28 severe electrical accidents relating to unsafe household electrical products and involving death or injury, were reported to the Government. While the majority of household electrical products available locally are safe, tests carried out by the Consumer Council have shown that some models of common household electrical products do not pass examination against. international safety standards. The proposals that I have outlined aim to ensure that all such products are safe to use.

I commend the Bill to this Council.

End

Firearms and Ammunition (Amendment) Bill

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in moving the second reading of the Firearms and Ammunition (Amendment) Bill 1996 in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Mr President,

I move that the Firearms and Ammunition (Amendment) Bill 1996 be read a second time.

The purpose of the Bill is to tighten the existing licensing framework to ensure that firearms are used safely.