XN000022-1996-07-10 — Page 48

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Immigration Service (Amendment) Bill: committee stage

Following is the speech by the acting Secretary for Security, Mrs Carrie Yau, in moving the committee stage amendments of the Immigration Service (Amendment) Bill 1996 in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Mr Chairman,

I move that the clauses specified be amended as set out in the to Members.

paper circularized

These amendments contain the proposed changes to the Immigration Service (Amendment) Bill 1996 which I have already referred to in the Second Reading debate and also some technical amendments. They have been discussed in detail by the Bills Committee and have received the Committee's endorsement.

Mr Chairman, I beg to move.

End

More stringent supervision of building works

The Government today (Wednesday) welcomed the passage by the Legislative Council of all but the criminal sanctions provision of the Buildings (Amendment) (No 3) Bill which provide more stringent registration of building professionals and contractors and set out clearly the level of supervision and responsibilities of the persons supervising building works.

A government spokesman said: "The Administration will now proceed to implement the new legislative provisions which mark an important step towards improving safety at construction and demolition sites."

"We hope to submit to the Legislative Council within six months relevant amending regulations. In parallel, the Buildings Department will work on the Technical Memorandum and Code of Practice for issue to the construction industry as soon as possible."

However, the spokesman expressed regrets that the Legislative Council voted to remove the criminal sanctions provision for failing to comply with supervision plans in cases directly resulting in injury or damage to properties.