*********************************************************
The following orders will be gazetted on October 23 and tabled in the Legislative Council on October 28:
(a) the Air Navigation (Hong Kong) Order 1995 (Amendment of Schedule 16) Order 2009; and
(b) the Dangerous Goods (Consignment by Air) (Safety) Regulations (Amendment of Schedule) Order 2009.
The former seeks to implement the latest requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for the safe transport of dangerous goods by air, a spokesperson for the Transport and Housing Bureau said today (October 21). The aviation industry has been consulted and generally supports the legislative proposals.
The spokesperson added, "The requirements are set out in a new edition (i.e. the 2009-2010 edition) of the ICAO's Technical Instructions for the Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air (the Technical Instructions)."
The latter seeks to amend the references made to the provisions of the Technical Instructions in the Dangerous Goods (Consignment by Air) (Safety) Regulations.
The more significant changes in the 2009-2010 edition aim to:
(a) revise airlines' cargo acceptance requirements to clarify the requirements for the checking of dangerous goods to be performed by the airlines;
(b) centralise the provisions for dangerous goods shipped under excepted quantities in the same chapter of the Technical Instructions for ease of reference;
(c) require the airlines to report incidents involving dangerous goods that are allowed to be shipped as general cargo in accordance with the special provisions of the Technical Instructions;
(d) clarify that dangerous goods carried for medical use by a patient during flight, including those that form part of the permanent equipment of the aircraft when it has been adapted for specialised use (i.e. air ambulances), can be carried by air ambulances without complying with the general requirements on such dangerous goods; and
(e) clarify the requirement of dangerous goods information to be provided to passengers to prevent dangerous goods from being carried by them.
The target commencement date of the above legislative amendments is January 1, 2010.
Dangerous goods in the context of air transport include explosives, compressed gas, flammable liquids, flammable solids, oxidizing substances, toxic substances, infectious substances, radioactive material and corrosives, etc.
Ends/Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Issued at HKT 16:30
NNNN