ENG-1955 — Page 180

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HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT

66. The recommendations of two international bodies have been reflected in this year's legislation: those of the International Labour Organization in the Factories & Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, No. 34; and those of the World Health Organization in the extensive amend- ments to the Quarantine and Prevention of Diseases Ordinance effected by Ordinance No. 38. The Emergency (Agricultural Poisons) Regulations, 1955, banned the import and prohibited the possession of certain organic phosphorus compounds which were being used as insec- ticides and had been the cause of several accidental deaths. Another danger, this time to aircraft, was controlled by the Air Navigation (Abatement of Smoke Nuisances) Ordinance, No. II.

Urban Council and Corrupt and Illegal Practices Ordin- ances. The Urban Council Ordinance (Cap. 101) was one of the three major Ordinances which were replaced on the Statute Book this year. The new Ordinance, No. 14, is intended to give effect to various suggestions which had been made with regard to reorganizing Urban Council elections. This Ordinance, and its companion, the Corrupt & Illegal Practices Ordinance, No. 20, were modelled on the well-tried legislation in the United Kingdom. There was previously no legislation controlling the conduct of elections. The latter Ordinance prohibits bribery or threatening of electors, the making of false statements with regard to the character of candidates and the personation of voters; it also provides for the limitation of candidates' election expenses.

Buildings Ordinance. A Committee set up in September 1953 by the Director of Public Works recommended that this Ordinance, No. 68, together with such of the regulations as had been prepared, should be enacted without waiting for the remainder of the regulations to be drafted. The Ordin- ance was thus passed by the Legislative Council at the end of the year. It is intended to be brought into force as soon as architects and building contractors have had an opportunity to familiarize themselves with it and with the regulations to be made. Nearly 200 of these, in three sets, have been published for information. Most of the changes are dictated by the advance in the science of building in the twenty years since the last Buildings Ordinance (Cap. 123) was enacted. The Building Authority is now required to take into con-

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