It gives me great pleasure to witness the 30^th anniversary of our work in gas safety.

I was posted twice to the Gas Standards Office (GasSO), first in the 1980s, when we were busy setting up the gas safety regulatory framework, and then again in the 1990s, when our focus was on strengthening the framework and paving the way for natural gas and other innovations. In both periods, our work was important and inspiring, but two incidents stand out for me: a lethal household gas explosion in Sha Tin, which spurred us on to greater effort in public education; and a gas stoppage in Northwest New Territories, which led to an amendment of the Gas Safety Ordinance and resulted in a significant decline in third-party damage incidents.

It is a testimony to GasSO’s good work that incidents such as these are very rare nowadays. Indeed, Hong Kong is among the world’s top cities for gas safety performance.

I congratulate the GasSO on its many contributions over the years: setting up gas safety guidelines, enforcing the law, working with the trade, and educating the public. I also thank the gas utilities and suppliers, the trade and related industries for their support. Hong Kong has now entered a stage where safety and sustainability are both important, posing new challenges. I have no doubt that the GasSO will go from strength to strength in the years to come.

Mr HO Kwong-wai, JP
Director of Electrical and Mechanical Services