Paper No.CB(2)513(01)

For information
7 November 1997

Provisional Legislative Council
Panel on Broadcasting, Culture and Sport

Progress Report on Review of the Use of Dangerous Goods in Film Production

PURPOSE

The purpose of this paper is to brief Members of the progress of the review of the existing control system on the use of pyrotechnics and other dangerous goods in film production.

BACKGROUND

2.At the Panel meeting held on 3 October 1997, Members were informed of the formation of an Inter-Departmental Working Group on the Use of Dangerous Goods in Film Production (the Working Group) chaired personally by the Secretary for Broadcasting, Culture and Sport to conduct a comprehensive review of the existing control system on the use of pyrotechnics and other dangerous goods in film production. Members urged Government to accord high priority to the review and asked to be advised on the progress and time table for the review.

PROGRESS MADE

3.The first meeting of the Working Group was held on 17 October 1997. The terms of reference and membership list of the Working Group are at Annexes 1 and 2 respectively.

4.The Working Group has decided to organize the review into two parts. The first part will be devoted to examining whether and how the existing application procedures could be streamlined and the processing time shortened. The objective is to establish what interim measures can be introduced to bring the use of dangerous goods in film production within the law.

5.In parallel with this study, the Working Group intends to conduct a fact finding visit to the California State Fire Marshal Film Industry Unit and get first hand information on the " Fire Marshal " system adopted there. The visit should help the Working Group formulate a comprehensive proposal on the regulation of dangerous goods in film production including the application process for approval.

6.The Working Group aims to complete the first part of the review before the end of the year. As for the formulation of a new comprehensive proposal, this will take longer and we propose to make a progress report in June 1998.

7.As stated previously, input from and consultation with the film industry is essential. In this regard, we have had several meetings with the film industry and have scheduled another for 4 November to further assess whether and how the film industry's current mode of operation in creating special effects using pyrotechnics and other dangerous goods might be brought within the law. We are hopeful that with the full co-operation of the film industry, a tailored-made control scheme which addresses the needs of the industry as well as meeting Government's objective on safety and security will be developed.

Broadcasting, Culture and Sport Bureau
October 1997

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Annex 1

Inter-departmental Working Group on Use of Dangerous Goods in Film Production

Terms of Reference

To review the existing control scheme governing the use of dangerous goods in film production to make the scheme as user-friendly as possible, having regard to the needs of the film industry and Government 's policy objectives on safety and security. Specific issues to be examined by the Working Group include :-

1. the regulation of the use of dangerous goods (such as pyrotechnics, fuel gas and petrol) in film production, and the need for a statutory and tailor-made control scheme;

2. a review of the existing control system on the use of pyrotechnics and other dangerous goods in film production, including its application procedures and administration;

3. the existing administrative requirement for a pyrotechnician to be registered with the Commissioner of Mines, and the feasibility of setting up a film special effects technician licensing system, having regard to the peculiar circumstances relating to the use of pyrotechnics and other dangerous goods in film production in Hong Kong; and

4. the scope of the control system : to examine whether the use of explosives other than pyrotechnics should be included.

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Annex 2

Inter-Departmental Working Group on the Use of Dangerous Goods in Film Production
(Membership List)