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Following is a question by the Hon Li Fung-ying and a written reply by the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Stephen Ip, in the Legislative Council today (June 13):
Question:
Some containers were toppled by strong gales on the 18th of last month, injuring 4 people. Regarding work safety at yards for loading, unloading and storage of containers ("container yards"), will the Government inform this Council:
(a) of the respective numbers of inspections and prosecutions made by the government departments concerned in relation to the above matter in each of the past three years, broken down by the offences involved, and among such prosecutions, the number of convicted cases and the penalties imposed; and
(b) as the typhoon season is drawing near, whether the Government has measures to prevent the recurrence of similar accidents; if it has, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
Madam President,
(a) In 2004, 2005 and 2006, the Labour Department ("LD") made 543, 486 and 635 inspections to container yards respectively. During the same period, LD took out 47 summonses regarding work safety at container yards. Details is at Annex 1.
(b) LD is very concerned about work safety in container yards during the typhoon season. A range of measures has been taken since this April to enhance enforcement, publicity and educational efforts.
In Mid-April this year, a meeting was held between LD and the Central Container Handling Safety Committee to discuss various work safety issues. Among other things, it was agreed during the meeting to organise a safety seminar to remind the industry of the necessary safety measures that ought to be taken.
The Hong Kong Observatory, the Central Container Handling Safety Committee and various container handling trade associations and workers' unions participated in the seminar held on May 8 this year. It was attended by representatives from most container yards. During the seminar, representatives of LD explained in detail the necessary work safety procedures to be carried out at container yards, including issues that require extra attention during the typhoon season. Besides, experts from the Hong Kong Observatory also elaborated in detail the latest meteorological data and methods of interpreting them.
Since late May, LD has launched a month-long container handling safety enforcement campaign to urge the responsible persons of container yards to take precautionary procedures to prevent accidents due to typhoon and adverse weather.
In addition, on publicity and promotion, LD has produced a radio API for broadcasting at various radio stations to promulgate the safety measures that ought to be taken at container yards under severe weather conditions. Furthermore, LD will, in collaboration with the Occupational Safety and Health Council, strengthen safety promotional efforts to remind people in the container industry to take necessary precautionary procedures during the typhoon season.
Ends/Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Issued at HKT 13:03
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