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Following is a speech by the acting Secretary for Planning, Environment and Lands, Mr Patrick Lau, on the Second Reading of the Lifts and Escalators (Safety) (Amendment) Bill 1998 in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Madam President,

I move that the Lifts and Escalators (Safety) (Amendment) Bill 1998 be read the Second time.

The Bill proposes a number of amendments aimed at improving the statutory control over the safety of lifts and escalators and associated administrative arrangements. The need for such improvements has stemmed from the empirical experience of the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services in recent years in enforcing the Lifts and Escalators (Safety) Ordinance.

The amendments covered by the Bill broadly fall into two categories. The first relates to the safety of the lifts and escalators. The Bill extends the scope of the Lifts and Escalators (Safety) Ordinance to cover most types of mechanised vehicle parking systems which are not presently regulated. The examination, testing and maintenance requirements for service lifts will also be upgraded. Registered lift or escalator engineers and contractors will be required to ensure that the lifts or escalators they install, examine or test are in compliance with the codes of practice for specifying safety requirements relating to the design and construction of lifts and escalators.

Under the Bill, the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services will be empowered to establish codes of practice for specifying safety requirements relating to the design and construction of lifts and escalators; and to impose conditions when giving approval to lift works or escalator works which are not in accordance with the relevant codes of practice.

To facilitate compliance with the new requirements, grace periods will be allowed for owners of service lifts installed before the commencement of the proposed legislative amendments and for owners of mechanised vehicle parking systems not presently regulated by the Ordinance.

The second category of improvement measures relates to the engineers and contractors who perform works on the lifts and escalators. The Bill includes provisions to expand and upgrade the minimum qualifications for the registration of lift or escalator engineers. It also spells out clearer the scope of their duties and the restrictions over sub-contracting or assignment of lift or escalator works.

The Bill also amends the existing provisions for the appointment of disciplinary board panel members and appeal board panel members under the Ordinance so as to enhance their independent roles and improve administrative efficiency.

We have consulted all major professional bodies of the industry on our legislative proposals. They have given their support.

Madam President, our legislative proposals are mainly related to improving the safety of lifts and escalators, which is a matter of public concern. I therefore commend the Bill to Honourable Members for early passage into law.

End/Wednesday, September 30, 1998

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