Registration of Factories
Under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, all factories where power-driven machinery is used, or where 20 or more people are employed for manufacturing purposes, must be registered with the Commissioner for Labour.
However, factories where dangerous trades are involved, which include boiler chipping, glass working, chromium-plating, manufacture of specified acids and certain other dangerous materials, must also be registered.
Fire Safety
The Director of Fire Services ensures that the required fire fighting and fire protection equipment is installed prior to the issue of an occupation permit. A person who intends to occupy premises for manufacturing purposes, or to make any structural alterations, should be sure that the Director of Fire Services has no objections. Approval for the construction of new premises will not be given by the Director of Public Works unless the plans are first agreed by the Director of Fire Services.
Dangerous Goods
The Director of Fire Services also controls substances used in factories or workshops which, by reason of their potentially dangerous characteristics, are classified as 'dangerous goods' (except explosives which are under the control of the Commissioner of Mines). Some examples are substances which are corrosive or poisonous; give off inflammable vapour; become dangerous by reaction with water; are strong supporters of combustion; are readily combustible; are
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liable to spontaneous combustion; and compressed gases. The Fire Prevention Bureau provides advice on the storage or manufacture of these substances.
Offensive Trades
The Public Health and Urban Services Ordinance defines as offensive certain trades and processes which might cause offensive or noxious effluvia or dust. Examples are boiling of fat, lard or resin; manufacture of chloride of lime; and cleaning, sorting and storing of feathers. Permission to carry on such trades is granted by the Urban Council for urban areas, and by the Director of Urban Services for the New Territories.
Pharmacy and Poisons
Legislation exists to control the import, export, manufacture, sale and distribution of pharmaceuticals. The Pharmacy and Poisons Board gives further information and advice.
Radioactive Substances and Irradiating Apparatus
The Labour Department's Industrial Health Division controls all undertakings using radioactive substances or irradiating apparatus, which are subject to the provisions of the Radiation Ordinance, the Radiation (Control of Radioactive Substances) Regulations 1965 and the Radiation (Control of Irradiating Apparatus) Regulations 1965.
Environmental Protection
New legislation for protecting the environment has been introduced covering waste disposal, water, air pollution and noise. The legislation is flexible and an environmental quality approach has been adopted to avoid the wasteful use of resources associated with blanket emission limits.
At the planning stage of large, new industrial projects which are likely to have a substantial effect on the environment, companies are required to provide an environmental impact assessment of the project. This ensures that environmental requirements are dealt with effectively at an early stage in the planning process.
The Government Secretariat's Environmental Pro- tection Unit advises on policy development in the areas of air and water pollution, noise abatement and waste management, as well as requirements for en- vironmental impact assessments.
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