TNAG-1733-FCO40-2446-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1988 — Page 252

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The maximum penalties prescribed for offences committed by a proprietor range from $20,000 to $30,000 while those for

offences by an employee are $10,000.

Some employees'

representatives have suggested that it is unfair to make

employees liable under the regulations. It is our firm view that both employers and employees must share the responsibility for ensuring safety at work.

The labelling system proposed in these regulations is in line with the method used in the United Kingdom in the Classification, Packaging and Labelling of Dangerous Substances

Regulations 1984. These follow United Nations standards and are at present commonly used in (EEC) countries. ᄉ

X European Economic Comman

Some dangerous substances

substances imported from overseas may use a slightly different labelling system. Due allowance for

this has been made in the proposed regulation 7(a), which

provides for exemption where the particulars in the labels are substantially the same as those prescribed.

The appropriate industrial and commercial organisations and the Labour Advisory Board have been consulted and support the introduction of the regulations.

Sir, during the past three months Members of this Council have carefully scrutinised the regulations, sought clarification of various points and received representations from interested bodies. Concern has been expressed that there may be loopholes and inadequacies. These are complex regulations which

concern people's lives and safety and fully deserve the detailed attention they have received. I am therefore most grateful to

Members for their efforts. The fact that, after such careful scrutiny, only two amendments have now been proposed is, I hope, an indication of the basic soundness of our approach.