TNAG-1363-FCO40-1809-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1985 — Page 136

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Secretary for Education and Manpower:- It is always very difficult

to be satisfied in any area of safety. I think probably myself that

I think the Commissioner for Labour would concur with this view,

that probably at the moment the biggest defect as it were is perhaps

supervision on the site and Members would probably like to be aware that

I am proposing to bring to this Council in the next two or three months

Safety Officers Regulations to bring in safety officers and safety

supervisors on construction sites. I am sure this will make a substantial

difference in the long run.

Mr. Chung:- Mr. Chairman, on the actual execution, will Government send

Labour Inspectors to inspect all construction sites and I stress all

construction sites. If this is the case, could this Council be informed

of the frequency of such visits and how many Labour Inspectors there are

with the special responsibility of visiting construction sites with a view

to checking on the safety of workers?

Secretary for Education and Manpower:- It would certainly be an impossible

task to have Inspectors on all construction sites at all time I think

and of course this is one of the reasons that safety should be built into

the method of work by the construction companies and contractors. I havent't

got it with me, but I will write to the Member on the question of what

the current frequency is but it isn't always easy because construction

sites moved round a great deal and although contractors are by law

required to inform the Labour Department of all sites it may take some time

to get round to them all.