以下為立法會會議上盧偉國議員的提問和發展局局長陳茂波的書面答覆：
問題：
《升降機及自動梯條例》（《條例》）（第６１８章）已於二○一二年十二月十七日全面實施。就配合實施該《條例》的措施，政府可否告知本會：
（一）當局有否與業內的有關專業團體設立溝通機制，以及採取具體配套措施（例如提供適當誘因），鼓勵業內從業員（包括註冊工程師和註冊工程人員）持續進修，使他們可符合專業資格和註冊要求，以及承辦商可符合有關註冊續期方面的要求；若有，詳情為何；若否，原因為何；
（二）鑑於有評論指出，升降機及自動梯的從業員面對工作環境欠佳、薪酬待遇不理想等問題，以致人才流失，而承辦商亦面對種種的營商困難（例如價格競爭、品質保證的困難等），當局有何措施吸引更多新人入行；有否就業界的經營困難進行研究，並提供適切的支援；若有，詳情為何；若否，原因為何；及
（三）機電工程署作為《條例》的執行機構，有否投放所需資源和增聘專業人員，以履行其監管職責；若有，詳情為何；若否，原因為何？
答覆：
主席：
二○一二年四月制定的《升降機及自動梯條例》（《條例》），目的是要進一步加強香港的升降機及自動梯安全。《條例》提出了一系列強化監管措施，包括加強升降機及自動梯工程從業員的註冊制度、提高違例的罰則水平、擴大法例的涵蓋範圍，以及提高運作效率和執法成效的措施。隨《條例》的主要條文於二○一二年十二月中全面實施，我們期望本港升降機及自動梯的安全水平可以進一步得到提升。
就問題的三個部分，我現答覆如下：
（一）從《條例》的起草階段開始，當局經已與相關工會、商會、專業團體及訓練機構等持份者，透過機電工程署（機電署）在二○一○年八月成立的修例建議籌委工作小組（工作小組），共同商議條例草案相關的事宜，當中包括推動從業員的持續進修，以及註冊承辦商的續期規定。
為協助業內從業員（包括註冊工程師和註冊工程人員）符合註冊及註冊續期中有關訓練的要求，機電署不時推出鼓勵持續進修的措施，包括聯同職業訓練局、電梯業協會和國際電梯工程師協會（香港－中國分會）等持份者，舉辦免費而可作為滿足註冊及註冊續期要求的訓練。此外，機電署在《升降機工程及自動梯工程實務守則》（《實務守則》）內訂明了註冊承辦商需為其僱用的工程人員提供足夠培訓，使他們能妥善和安全地進行工程。此等內部培訓亦可幫助工程人員滿足註冊及註冊續期的要求。機電署亦大力推動註冊承辦商舉辦由香港工程師學會認可的工程畢業生培訓計劃，藉此協助從業員考取專業資格，以符合工程師的註冊要求。
另一方面，機電署已為工程師和工程人員訂明清晰指引，說明註冊及註冊續期所需訓練的內容及形式，以便他們選擇合適的訓練。機電署亦為註冊承辦商訂明清晰指引，說明註冊續期所需設施等要求，以便他們符合註冊續期的規定。此外，機電署會在註冊人士的註冊有效期屆滿前，適時發出提示，讓他們有充足時間滿足註冊續期的要求。
（二）我們經常透過工作小組及其他渠道，了解升降機及自動梯行業的經營狀況，而《條例》的實施有利業界長遠及可持續的健康發展，改善營商環境及吸引新人入行。
《條例》加強了對註冊承辦商的規管措施，包括提高違例的罰則水平、引入承辦商註冊續期制度以及加強安全部件的審批要求，藉此提升註冊承辦商的質素。機電署則透過發出指引及舉辦講座，教育物業擁有人及物業管理公司在選擇承辦商時，除價格外亦需考慮包括承辦商的人手及過往表現等因素，使他們的升降機及自動梯能保持於安全操作狀態。另一方面，機電署也會定期公布註冊承辦商表現評級，使物業擁有人及物業管理公司可以獲得資訊選擇合適的註冊承辦商。以上措施能促使註冊承辦商以合理的價格承辦工程合約，從而改善他們的營商環境，而業界亦更有條件保證服務品質及投資在人力資源上。
此外，我們藉提升從業員的專業地位、改善工作環境及加強培訓，吸引更多新人入行。
《條例》提升了註冊工程師的註冊資格要求，以及引入工程人員註冊制度，使從業員的專業地位得以提升。此外，工程人員註冊制度取代了與就業掛的合資格工人安排，令他們在工作選擇上更具彈性，以及在薪酬福利上更具議價能力。
在改善工作環境方面，機電署不時連同業界並根據行業的最新發展，檢討及更新《實務守則》，提升工作環境的要求，例如新近加入了訂明承辦商應在進行工作前，評估升降機井道的溫度、通風、照明等工作環境條件的要求，以確保適合工友進行相關工作。
上文提及的工程畢業生培訓計劃，可吸引相關工程學位畢業生加入行業，增加註冊工程師的新血。此外，職業訓練局多年來一直有舉辦相關技工學徒訓練課程，為業界培訓更多新血。建造業議會正與有關商會積極研究推行承建商合作培訓計劃。業界亦正計劃與僱員再培訓局及職業訓練局舉辦升降機及自動梯工程業助理技工證書課程，吸引更多新人入行。
（三）機電署於二○一○年獲批准增加人手，額外開設一名工程師、一名高級督察及六名督察職位，以加強升降機及自動梯安全的規管。在條例全面實施後，機電署會按現時的資源，繼續以風險評估的基礎進行抽查，嚴格執行條例的規定。當局會不時檢討機電署的人手，以確保投放適當資源進行執法及公眾教育的工作。
Following is a question by the Dr Hon Lo Wai-kwok and a written reply by the Secretary for Development, Mr Paul Chan, in the Legislative Council:
Question:
The Lifts and Escalators Ordinance (the Ordinance) (Cap. 618) has come into full operation since December 17, 2012. Regarding the measures to complement the implementation of the Ordinance, will the Government inform this Council:
(a) whether the authorities have established a communication mechanism with the relevant professional bodies in the trade and taken concrete complementary measures (such as providing suitable incentives) to encourage practitioners in the trade (including registered engineers and registered workers) to pursue continuing education, so as to enable them to meet the professional qualifications and registration requirements as well as the contractors to meet the registration renewal requirements stipulated in the Ordinance; if they have, of the details; if not, the reasons for that;
(b) as there have been comments that the lift and escalator practitioners face adverse working environment, unsatisfactory remuneration packages etc., which has led to a brain drain, and the contractors also face various difficulties in their businesses (e.g. price competition, difficulties in quality assurance, etc.), of the measures taken by the authorities to attract more new blood to join the trade; whether they have conducted any studies on the business difficulties faced by the trade and provided them with appropriate support; if they have, of the details; if not, the reasons for that; and
(c) whether the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, being the enforcement agency of the Ordinance, has allocated the resources needed and employed additional professional staff to discharge its monitoring duties; if it has, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
The Lifts and Escalators Ordinance (the Ordinance), enacted in April 2012, aims at further enhancing lift and escalator safety in Hong Kong. The Ordinance introduces a series of enhanced regulatory control measures, including strengthening the registration regime for personnel engaged in lift and escalator works; increasing the penalty levels of offences; extending the coverage of the legislation; and enhancing operational efficiency and enforcement effectiveness. We anticipate that the safety level of lifts and escalators in Hong Kong could be further enhanced after the main provisions of the Ordinance came into full operation in mid-December 2012.
My reply to the three parts of the question is as follows:
(a) Since the bill drafting stage, the Administration has discussed the bill-related issues including driving practitioners' continuous studies and the renewal requirements for registered contractors, with stakeholders, such as relevant trade unions, trade associations, professional bodies and training organisations through the Task Force for Legislative Amendments to Lifts and Escalators (Safety) Ordinance (the Task Force) established by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) in August 2010.
To assist practitioners, including registered engineers and registered workers, to comply with the training requirements for registration and registration renewal, EMSD has been introducing measures to encourage them to pursue continuous studies from time to time. These measures include the collaboration with stakeholders, such as the Vocational Training Council (VTC), the Lift and Escalator Contractors' Association, and the International Association of Elevator Engineers (HK-China Branch), in organising free training that can meet the requirements for registration and registration renewal. Besides, EMSD stipulates in its Code of Practice for Lift Works and Escalator Works (the CoP) that registered contractors shall provide adequate training to their workers so that they can carry out works properly and in a safe manner. Such in-house training can also help workers meet the requirements for registration and registration renewal. EMSD also actively encourages registered contractors to organise graduate training schemes accredited by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers to help practitioners obtain the professional qualification for meeting the registration requirements for engineers.
On the other hand, EMSD has issued clear guidelines for engineers and workers on the contents and mode of training required for registration and registration renewal in order to facilitate their selection of appropriate training. In addition, EMSD has issued clear guidelines for contractors on registration renewal requirements, such as the facilities required, to facilitate their compliance. Besides, EMSD will give timely notifications to registered personnel before expiry of their registration to enable them to have sufficient time to comply with the requirements for registration renewal.
(b) We always keep abreast of the operating conditions of the lift and escalator industry through the Task Force and other channels. The implementation of the Ordinance will facilitate the long term and sustainable healthy development of the industry, improve its business environment and attract new entrants to the trade.
The Ordinance steps up the regulatory control measures against registered contractors. The measures include raising the penalty levels for offences, introducing a registration renewal regime for contractors, and tightening approval requirements for safety components. These measures lead to enhancement of the quality of registered contractors. On the other hand, through issuing guidelines and organising seminars, EMSD educates property owners and property management companies that, apart from cost, they should also consider factors like contractor's manpower and past performance in selecting contractors to maintain their lifts and escalators in a safe operation state. EMSD also publishes the performance ratings of registered contractors regularly to help property owners and property management companies make informed choices when selecting their registered contractors. The above measures can help registered contractors to undertake works contracts at reasonable prices thereby improving their business operating environment. The industry will in turn be better placed to ensure quality service and to invest in manpower.
Furthermore, we can attract more new recruits through enhancing the professional status of practitioners, improving their working conditions and strengthening training.
The Ordinance enhances the professional status of practitioners by raising the qualification requirements for registration as a registered engineer and introducing a registration regime for workers. Replacement of the employment-tied arrangement by the workers' registration regime also provides workers with greater flexibility in choosing jobs and higher bargaining power in negotiating remuneration packages.
On improving working conditions, EMSD has been from time to time working with the industry and in the light of the latest developments in the industry to review and update the CoP to raise the requirements on the working conditions. For instance, a new provision has recently been introduced requiring contractors to assess and confirm that the environmental factors, such as temperature, ventilation, lightings, etc., inside the lift shaft are suitable before commencing works.
The graduate training schemes mentioned above can attract graduates with relevant engineering degrees to join the ranks of registered engineers in the industry. VTC has also been organising relevant apprentice courses to train new entrants for the industry over the years. Currently, the Construction Industry Council is working with the related trade associations in pursuing the Contractor Cooperative Training Scheme. The trade is also planning to collaborate with the Employees Retraining Board and VTC to organise a Certificate Course for Assistant Lift and Escalator Mechanics to attract new entrants to the industry.
(c) To enhance the regulation of escalator and lift safety, approval was granted in 2010 for EMSD to expand its establishment by creating one engineer, one senior inspector and six inspectors posts. With the full implementation of the Ordinance, EMSD will continue to use its current resources to conduct risk assessments on a random basis and strictly enforce the Ordinance. The Administration will from time to time review EMSD's manpower to ensure that appropriate resources are allocated for law enforcement and public education.
