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The Government today (June 30) gazetted a Code of Practice on working near electricity supply lines approved by the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services under the Electricity Supply Lines (Protection) Regulation (ESLPR).

A spokesman for the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) said the code of practice outlined practical guidance to ensure that activities carried out in the vicinity of the underground electricity cables and overhead electricity lines did not prejudice safety or the continuity of the electricity supply.

There will be a grace period until the end of the year to give the industry sufficient time to get familiar with the requirements of the ESLPR and the code.

Also gazetted today are the training courses for locating underground electricity cables approved by the Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services for the ESLPR.

The Construction Industry Training Authority (CITA) now offers training courses for those who want to qualify as a competent person required under the ESLPR to undertake the underground electricity cable locating work. Details of the course can be obtained from CITA's Training Centre at Kowloon Bay.

The EMSD also accepts from today applications for approval as a competent person. To be qualified for approval as a competent person, the applicant shall comply with certain training and/or experience requirements necessary for carrying out the underground electricity cables locating work in a competent manner.

The information pamphlet and application forms for approval as competent person are now available from the EMSD's Customer Service Office, 98 Caroline Hill Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, or from District Offices.

The information can also be found on EMSD's web site at http://www.info.gov.hk/emsd. For enquiry, please call the EMSD on tel 2882 8011.

End/Friday, June 30, 2000

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