Following is the speech by the Acting Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Patrick Lau, in resuming the second reading debate of the Lifts and Escalators (Safety) (Amendment) Bill 1998 in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Madam President,
I would like to thank the Honourable Raymond Ho Chung-tai, the Chairman of the Bills Committee, and members of the Committee for their close examination and their valuable advice on the Lifts and Escalators (Safety) (Amendment) Bill 1998.
2. As I explained when moving that the Bill be read the Second time on September 30, 1998, the Bill proposes a number of amendments aimed at improving the statutory control over the safety of lifts and escalators and associated administrative arrangements under the Lifts and Escalators (Safety) Ordinance. I am pleased that the Bills Committee has supported us in amending the existing legislation to improve the safety of lifts and escalators.
3. The Bills Committee has put forward a number of constructive views and suggestions which the Administration is pleased to adopt. These include -
(a) Requiring that representatives of the respective engineering disciplines shall be "registered professional engineers" under the Engineers Registration Ordinance before they can be appointed to the disciplinary board panel and the appeal board panel;
(b) Including structural engineers as eligible candidates for appointment to the appeal board panel; and
(c) Extending the grace period to 12 months upon the commencement of the Bill to allow the owners of mechanized vehicle parking systems and service lifts to comply with the safety requirements imposed under the Bill.
I shall move amendments to the Bill at the Committee stage to take on board these suggestions and also some textual amendments to improve the clarity of the provisions.
4. The Bills Committee has also expressed concern about our proposal to upgrade the minimum qualifications for registration as a lift or escalator engineer, which may affect the serving apprentices in the industry who have working experience but do not possess the necessary academic qualifications. The proposed legislation will not affect the persons already on the registers of lift or escalator engineers. With regard to future registration, I can assure Members that the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services will consider registering applicants with adequate relevant experience but lower academic qualifications as lift or escalator engineers under the existing section 5(2B) of the Ordinance. To further allay the concern, we agree to defer the commencement of the relevant provision by one year.
5. I urge Members to vote in support of the Bill.
6. Thank you, Madam President.
End/Wednesday, January 20, 1999
NNNN