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Following is a question by the Hon Chan Hak-kan and a written reply by the Secretary for Transport and Housing, Professor Anthony Cheung Bing-leung, in the Legislative Council today (May 13):
Question:
In connection with the safety of vehicle repair work and training for vehicle mechanics, will the Government inform this Council:
(1) of the current number of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vehicles in Hong Kong, and the respective numbers of taxis and light buses among them;
(2) of the current number of mechanics qualified for repairing the fuel systems of LPG vehicles; whether it knows the number of them who are currently engaged in vehicle repair work;
(3) whether it knows the contents of the 19 training courses on motor vehicle repair currently provided by the Vocational Training Council;
(4) of the current number of mechanics registered under the Voluntary Registration Scheme for Vehicle Mechanics; whether it knows (i) the number of them who are currently engaged in vehicle repair work, and (ii) the percentage of them in the total number of vehicle mechanics;
(5) of the current number of workshops registered under the Voluntary Registration Scheme for Vehicle Maintenance Workshops, and the percentage of them in the total number of vehicle repair workshops in Hong Kong;
(6) whether it has assessed if the implementation progress of the two schemes mentioned in (4) and (5) is satisfactory; if the assessment result is in the affirmative, whether the authorities will strengthen the regulatory measures (such as mandating all mechanics and workshops to be registered); if they will, of the implementation timetable;
(7) whether the Government has regularly organised safety seminars for mechanics in respect of high-risk vehicle repair work; and
(8) of the number of vehicle repair workshops inspected by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD), and whether EMSD took enforcement actions against contraventions of the Gas Safety Ordinance (Cap. 51), in each of the past three years; if so, of the details?
Reply:
President,
Having consulted the Environment Bureau (ENB), the Government's consolidated reply to various parts of Hon Chan Hak-kan's question is as follows:
(1) As at end April 2015, there are a total of about 22 000 registered liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vehicles in Hong Kong, including about 18 000 LPG taxis and about 3 700 LPG light buses.
(2) As pointed out by the ENB, general maintenance and repair of LPG vehicles may be carried out by general vehicle mechanics. As for any work on or in relation to a gas pipe, including works on the fuel tank or other associated components, the Gas Safety Ordinance (Cap. 51) stipulates that such work should be carried out by a competent person or under the supervision of a competent person. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) is responsible for the enforcement of the Gas Safety Ordinance, and requires that any replacement of LPG fuel tanks or any maintenance, repair or replacement work for other associated components are required to be carried out by a Competent Person (Class 6) or a person under the supervision of a Competent Person (Class 6). There are currently over 1 100 Competent Persons (Class 6) in Hong Kong. They have completed the LPG Vehicle Servicing Programme provided by the Vocational Training Council and possess practical experience and are qualified for repairing the fuel system of LPG vehicles.
(3) Pro-Act Training and Development Centre (Automobile) of the Vocational Training Council currently offers a total of 19 in-service training courses on vehicle repair for automotive mechanics to enhance their service standards. These 19 courses cover the basic operations, maintenance and inspection, calibration, fault diagnostic and repair skills for vehicle parts and systems of a wide range of vehicles (including LPG vehicles), as well as the spraying techniques for vehicle body, welding, automobile vehicle testing and the use of measuring tools/equipment, etc.
(4) As at end April 2015, there are about 9 000 vehicle mechanics in Hong Kong, of which 6 380 (i.e. about 70%) vehicle mechanics already registered under the Voluntary Registration Scheme for Vehicle Mechanics. The registration and renewal of registration are valid for three years. One of the conditions for renewal of the registration is that an applicant has to be engaged in vehicle repair work in past three years prior to his application. According to EMSD's understanding, most of the registered mechanics under the Voluntary Registration Scheme are presently engaged in vehicle repair work.
(5) To pave way for the Voluntary Registration Scheme for Vehicle Maintenance Workshops, EMSD launched the Vehicle Maintenance Workshops Charter Scheme in January 2013. Some 400 workshops have already subscribed to the Charter Scheme. Although the initial subscription rate is not high, having reviewed the implementation of the Charter Scheme and discussed with the trade, EMSD decided to roll out the Voluntary Registration Scheme for Vehicle Maintenance Workshops in 2015, publicity activities of which will kick off in mid-2015.
(6) As pointed out in parts (4) and (5) of the reply, about 70% of the total number of vehicle mechanics in Hong Kong already registered under the Voluntary Registration Scheme for Vehicle Mechanics as at end April 2015. The Voluntary Registration Scheme for Vehicle Maintenance Workshops will also be rolled out in mid-2015. EMSD will consult the trade in due course, and take into account the results of the two voluntary registration schemes, as well as the cost benefit analysis of a mandatory scheme, when considering the introduction of a mandatory registration scheme for vehicle maintenance workshops.
(7) The Labour Department from time to time organises regular safety talks for vehicle repair and maintenance companies and their employees, related organisations and other members of the industry. The safety talks mainly cover occupational safety and health related legislation and general safety measures relating to vehicle repair and maintenance work. Where necessary, thematic safety seminars (e.g. safety seminars on repair and maintenance work of heavy machineries and vehicles of the container handling industry) will also be held to meet the needs of the industry. In addition, the Occupational Safety and Health Council has organised the "Motor Car Repairing Safety Supervisor Training Course" for the car repairing industry.
(8) According to ENB, EMSD currently has 39 Gas Safety Inspectors. In the past three years, EMSD conducted on average over 1 300 inspections on 571 approved LPG "notifiable gas installations" under the Gas Safety Ordinance every year. These inspections included inspections at least once a year of the 29 vehicle maintenance workshops with storage of more than one LPG fuel tanks (i.e. storage of more than 130 litres of LPG), as well as random surprise inspections. The existing 29 vehicle maintenance workshops that are LPG "notifiable gas installations" approved by EMSD may store more than one LPG fuel tank (i.e. LPG storage with more than 130 litres), and may carry out replacement work on the fuel tank or other associated components of more than one LPG vehicle in parallel by Competent Persons (Class 6) or by persons under the supervision of Competent Persons (Class 6). Vehicle maintenance workshops that are LPG "notifiable gas installations" are required to comply with EMSD's safety requirements in respect of the design, construction and location, including good ventilation, excluded from locations for occupation, and the installation of gas detection system, mechanical ventilation systems and fire prevention systems, etc.
Since the explosion and fire incident at the end of April this year, EMSD has conducted 350 additional inspections to vehicle maintenance workshops (including all vehicle maintenance workshops in Wong Tai Sin District) to ensure that the vehicle maintenance workshops have not contravened the requirements under the Ordinance. The inspections ensured that the vehicle maintenance shops have not stored more than 130 litres of LPG without approval, and replacement of the fuel tank or other associated components is carried out by a competent person or under the supervision of a competent person. During the inspection period, EMSD found that two vehicle repair workshops have over-storage of LPG and is now conducting investigation. EMSD is also planning to inspect all 2 700 vehicle maintenance workshops in Hong Kong in the next few weeks.
In the past three years, EMSD has prosecuted one unqualified person for conducting repair work on the fuel system of LPG vehicles. EMSD has also prosecuted the owner of a container for using that container as LPG container on a taxi without approval. In addition, EMSD is conducting investigation on two cases involving vehicle maintenance workshops with over-storage of LPG.
Ends/Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Issued at HKT 14:15
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