Introduction of the Voluntary Registration Scheme for Vehicle Mechanics would not only enhance vehicle maintenance standard and road safety, but would also reduce emissions from vehicles and improve air pollution in Hong Kong, Permanent Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works (Transport), Mr Joshua Law, said today (January 4).
Officiating at the launching ceremony of the scheme, Mr Law described it as a new milestone in the professional development of the vehicle maintenance trade.
Mr Law said the scheme served to provide a mechanism for individual mechanics with the necessary qualifications and experience on vehicle maintenance to be registered. "It helps to strengthen public confidence in the vehicle maintenance trade by fostering a professionalism and public image of the registered mechanics," he said.
"We believe the scheme will provide an incentive for vehicle mechanics to continuously upgrade their skills and knowledge and further enhance the service standard of the local vehicle maintenance trade."
Mr Law said the registration scheme had received active participation and support of the trade throughout the process of planning, consultation, design and implementation. The Government had formed a Vehicle Maintenance Technical Advisory Committee to exchange views on the design and details of the scheme with representatives from trade associations and professional bodies.
Also speaking at the ceremony, the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services, Mr Ho Kwong-wai, described the scheme as an all-win proposition.
He said vehicle mechanics would get a registration card and certificate upon successful registration, identifying their adequate qualifications and competence. Workshop operators would have greater recognition for registered mechanics, and, in turn would augment the professional image of the trade.
"For consumers, the scheme enables vehicle owners to easily identify registered mechanics. They will have greater confidence in the services provided by registered mechanics, thus alleviating their concern over vehicle maintenance," Mr Ho said.
"As the scheme requires registered vehicle mechanics to follow a set of code of conduct and participate in continuing professional development, it will raise the standard of the local vehicle maintenance trade in the long run and society on the whole will benefit from improved vehicle safety."
Mr Ho called on the trade to register for the scheme as soon as possible.
There are three primary service classes for registration under the scheme - Mechanical, Electrical and Body. Under the primary service classes, there are sub-classes to cater for the differences in techniques and standards required for repairing vehicles of different vehicle types, engines and equipment. In addition, the scheme also includes “Restricted Services” classes for those mechanics who work in specific types of work such as car battery or tyre to become registered vehicle mechanics. The scheme is characterised by a quality control mechanism, which requires all registered vehicle mechanics to observe the code of conduct set out by the trade and comply with the associated performance monitoring system. The Vehicle Maintenance Registration Unit of Electrical and Mechanical Services Department is tasked with the monitoring role.
In order for registered mechanics to continuously advance their specialised skills and competence, each registration is valid for three years and renewal requires a minimum of 20 hours of continuing professional development within the previous registration period.
A review of the voluntary scheme is scheduled for 2008 to decide on the introduction of mandatory registration.
Chairman of the Legislative Council Panel on Transport, Mr Andrew Cheng; Members of the Legislative Council Panel on Transport, Mr Raymond Ho and Ms Miriam Lau; Chairman of the Vocational Training Council, Mr Andrew Leung, and members of the Vehicle Maintenance Technical Advisory Committee were also present at today's launching ceremony.
Ends/Thursday, January 4, 2007