Waterworks (Amendment) Bill 2017 gazetted

The Waterworks (Amendment) Bill 2017 was gazetted today (March 31). The Bill seeks to bring the Waterworks Ordinance (Cap. 102) (WWO) in line with the policy intent and the industry practice in regard to persons designated for carrying out plumbing works and the duties of licensed plumbers (LPs).

"While the Water Authority (WA) has set forth a holistic review on the WWO, the Bill is a prioritised measure to designate skilled workers or semi-skilled workers for the relevant designated trade divisions registered under the Construction Workers Registration Ordinance (Cap. 583) (CWRO), in addition to LPs and public officers authorised by the WA, to carry out plumbing works. The Bill will also allow other persons working under the instruction and supervision of LPs, skilled workers or semi-skilled workers for the relevant designated trade divisions to carry out plumbing works. It will align the requirements on the persons designated for carrying out plumbing works under the WWO with those under the CWRO, and provide additional workforce in the plumbing industry without compromising work quality," a Development Bureau spokesman said.

As for the duties of LPs, the Bill will formalise the existing administrative requirements and stipulate that all applications for permission under the WWO to carry out plumbing works must be made by LPs. It will also make it clear that the LPs will be liable for any non-compliant work.

Other key amendments to the WWO under the Bill include:

* introducing a provision in the WWO such that any prosecution under the WWO may be brought within a period of six months from the date on which the offence is discovered by, or comes to the notice of, the WA; and

* empowering the WA to enter into any premises (other than those used for human habitation), without consent or warrant, where plumbing works are being carried out, for the purpose of ascertaining whether the works are being carried out by persons designated for carrying out plumbing works.

"We have consulted professional bodies, plumbing trade associations, plumbers associations, workers associations, the construction sector, developers, the Consumer Council, the general public and the Panel on Development of the Legislative Council in finalising the proposed amendments," the spokesman added.

The Bill has been scheduled for introduction to the Legislative Council on April 26. A brief on the Bill is available at the Development Bureau's website: www.devb.gov.hk/en/legco_matters/legislative_council_papers/index.html.


Ends/Friday, March 31, 2017
Issued at HKT 11:15
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