What’s Codes of Practice (CoP)?

October 18, 2020
[Ref CAP.59, CAP.509]

“Codes of Practice” can be found in both Cap.59 (F&IUO) and Cap.509 (OSHO).

According to Cap.59 (F&IUO):

7A. Codes of practice 工作守則

  • (1) For the purpose of providing practical guidance in respect of any one or more of the requirements of this Ordinance or of regulations under this Ordinance, the Commissioner may issue such codes of practice (whether prepared by the Commissioner or not) as the Commissioner considers appropriate.
    為就本條例或根據本條例訂立的規例的任何一項或多於一項規定而提供實務指引，處長可發出他認為適當的工作守則(不論是否由處長擬備)。
  • (2)The Commissioner may amend or revoke a code of practice issued by him under subsection (1).
    處長可修訂或撤銷其根據第(1)款發出的工作守則。
  • (3)Where the Commissioner exercises a power under subsection (1) or (2), he shall as soon as may be reasonably practicable publish notice thereof in the Gazette and the notice shall be in such form as the Commissioner considers appropriate.
    如處長根據第(1)或(2)款行使權力，他須在合理切實可行範圍內盡快於憲報刊登有關的公告，公告的格式按處長認為合適者而定。
  • (4)A failure by any person to observe a provision of an approved code shall not of itself cause him to incur any criminal liability, but where—
    任何人不會純粹因沒有遵守認可守則的條文而令他招致任何刑事法律責任，但如 ——

    • (a)in any criminal proceedings the defendant is alleged to have committed an offence either—
      在任何刑事法律程序中，被告人被指稱已犯罪，理由是 ——

      • (i)by reason of a contravention of or a failure to comply with, whether by act or omission, this Ordinance or regulations under this Ordinance; or
        本條例或根據本條例訂立的規例(不論是藉任何作為或不作為)遭違反或沒有獲遵從；
      • (ii)by reason of a failure to discharge or perform a duty imposed by this Ordinance or such regulations; and
        本條例或該等規例所委予的責任沒有獲履行或執行；及
    • (b)the matter to which the alleged contravention or failure relates is one to which, in the opinion of the court, an approved code relates, then subsection (5) shall apply as regards the proceedings.
      所指稱的違反或沒有獲遵從或履行或執行所涉及的事項，是法庭認為與認可守則有關的，則對於該等法律程序而言，第(5)款即適用。
  • (5)In any criminal proceedings to which this subsection applies, the following, namely—
    在本款適用的任何刑事法律程序中，以下各項，即 ——

    • (a)compliance with a provision of an approved code found by the court to be relevant to a matter to which a contravention or failure alleged in the proceedings relates;
      遵從認可守則的條文，而該條文獲法庭裁斷為與法律程序中所指稱的違反或沒有獲遵從或履行或執行所涉及的事項有關；
    • (b)a contravention or failure to comply with, whether by act or omission, any such provision so found, may be relied on by any party to the proceedings as tending to establish or to negative any liability which is in question in the proceedings.
      違反或沒有遵從(不論是藉任何作為或不作為)任何獲如此裁斷的條文，均可被法律程序的任何一方倚賴為傾向確定或否定在法律程序中受爭議的任何法律責任的根據。
  • (6)In any criminal proceedings, any document which purports to be a copy of a particular approved code shall, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, be regarded by the court as being a true copy of that code.
    在任何刑事法律程序中，任何看來是個別認可守則的文本，在無相反證據的情況下，須被法庭視為該守則的真確文本。

According to Cap.509 (OSHO):

40. Workplace codes of practice 工作地點工作守則

  • (1)The Commissioner may issue codes of practice for the purpose of providing practical guidance to employers and employees, and to occupiers of workplaces who are not employers.
    處長可為向僱主、僱員及不是僱主的工作地點佔用人提供實務指引而發出工作守則。
  • (2)A workplace code of practice—
    工作地點工作守則 ——

    • (a)may consist of a code, standard, rule, specification or provision relating to occupational safety or health approved by the Commissioner; and
      可包含由處長批准的關乎職業安全或健康的守則、標準、規則、規格或條文；及
    • (b)may apply, incorporate or refer to any document that has been formulated or published by a body or authority either as in force at the time when the document is approved by the Commissioner or as amended, formulated or published from time to time.
      可應用、編入、參照或提述任何已由任何團體或當局公布或發表的文件，而該文件是於處長批准時有效的或是不時經修訂、公布或發表的。
  • (3)The Commissioner may amend or revoke a code of practice issued under this section.
    處長可修訂或撤銷根據本條發出的工作守則。
  • (4)The Commissioner is required to publish in both English and Chinese—
    處長須以中文及英文發表 ——

    • (a)any code of practice issued under this section; and
      根據本條發出的任何工作守則；及
    • (b)if the code is subsequently amended, the amendments made to the code.
    • The publication may be in such form as the Commissioner considers will communicate the contents of the code or of the amendments to the people affected.
      (如該守則其後經修訂)對該守則作出的修訂，

      並可以處長認為能向受影響的人傳達該守則或修訂的內容的形式發表。
  • (5)Whenever a code of practice is issued under this section or the code is amended or revoked, the Commissioner is required to publish in the Gazette a notice of the issue, amendment or revocation.
    每當根據本條發出任何工作守則時或該守則被修訂或遭撤銷時，處長須在憲報刊登關於該項發出、修訂或撤銷的公告。
  • (6)The Commissioner is required to make available at the head office of the Labour Department, during ordinary business hours, all workplace codes of practice for inspection by members of the public. No charge is to be made for the inspection of a workplace code of practice.
    處長須於勞工處的總辦事處在日常辦公時間備有所有工作地點工作守則，以供公眾人士查閱。查閱工作地點工作守則須是免費的。
  • (7)A workplace code of practice takes effect on the date on which notice of the code is published in the Gazette or on such later date as is specified in the notice.
    工作地點工作守則自關於該守則的公告在憲報刊登的日期起生效，或自該公告所指明的較後日期起生效。
  • (8)An amendment to a workplace code of practice takes effect on the date on which notice of the amendment is published in the Gazette or on such later date as is specified in the notice.
    工作地點工作守則的修訂自關於該項修訂的公告在憲報刊登的日期起生效，或自該公告所指明的較後日期起生效。
  • (9)A workplace code of practice ceases to have effect on the date on which notice of revocation of the code is published in the Gazette or on such later date as is specified in the notice.
    工作地點工作守則自關於該守則的撤銷的公告在憲報刊登的日期起停止有效或自該公告所指明的較後日期起停止有效。

41. Effect of workplace code of practice 工作地點工作守則的效力

  • (1)A person does not incur a civil or criminal liability only because the person has contravened a provision of a workplace code of practice.
    任何人不會只因違反工作地點工作守則的條文而招致民事或刑事法律責任。
  • (2)However, if, in any legal proceedings the court is satisfied that a workplace code of practice is relevant to determining a matter that is in issue in the proceedings—
    但如法庭在任何法律程序中信納工作地點工作守則對裁定在該法律程序中受爭論的事宜是有關的，則 ——

    • (a)the code of practice is admissible in evidence in the proceedings; and
      該工作守則在該法律程序中可被接納為證據；及
    • (b)proof that the person contravened or did not contravene a relevant provision of the code may be relied on by any party to the proceedings as tending to establish or negate that matter.
      證明某人已違反或沒有違反守則的有關條文的證據，可獲法律程序的任何一方依賴為可確立或否定該事宜的證據。
  • (3)In any legal proceedings, a document that purports to be a copy of a workplace code of practice is, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, to be presumed to be a true copy of the code.
    在任何法律程序中，在沒有相反證據的情況下，任何看來是工作地點工作守則的副本的文件須推定為該守則真實副本。
  • (4)A workplace code of practice is not subsidiary legislation for the purposes of Part V of the Interpretation and General Clauses Ordinance (Cap. 1).
    工作地點工作守則並不是就《釋義及通則條例》(第1章)第V部而言的附屬法例。
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