PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) REGULATION - CHAPTER 406F PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) REGULATION - LONG TITLE Empowering section (Repealed L.N. 187 of 1997) VerDate:29/05/1998 PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) - LONG TITLE Empowering section VerDate:30/06/1997 (Cap. 406 section 59(1)) (23 March 1995) (L.N. 503 of 1994) PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) REGULATION - SECT 1 (Repealed L.N. 187 of 1997) VerDate:29/05/1998 PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) - SECT 1 (Omitted as spent) VerDate:30/06/1997 (Omitted as spent) (Enacted 1994) PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) REGULATION - SECT 2 (Repealed L.N. 187 of 1997) VerDate:29/05/1998 PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) - SECT 2 Interpretation VerDate:30/06/1997 (1) In this Regulation, unless the context otherwise requires- "adaptor" (適配接頭) means any device which may be engaged with a socket and that is designed- (a) to enable a plug having pins, or other forms of contact, of different dimensions or configuration from those of the socket, to be engaged with the socket; (b) to enable more than one plug to be engaged with the socket; or (c) to be used for both of the purposes mentioned in paragraphs (a)and (b); "appliance coupler" (器具聯接器) means a device designed to connect a flexible cable or cord to an electrical product and consisting of- (a) a connector which is an integral part of, or intended to be attached to, the flexible cable or cord; and (b) an inlet which is incorporated into or fixed to the electrical product or intended to be fixed to it; "BS" followed by a number or a combination of letters and numbers means the British Standard Specification of that number or that combination of letters and numbers published by the British Standards Institution; "cable connector" (電纜接頭) means a device designed to join flexible cables or cords in such a way that the cables or cords can be joined and separated without the use of a tool; "EN" followed by a number or a combination of letters and numbers means the European Standard of that number or that combination of letters and numbers published by the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardisation; "fuse element" (熔斷元件) means that part of a fuse that is designed to melt when an excessive current flows into an electrical circuit; "fuse link" (熔斷連桿) means that part of a fuse including the fuse element which requires replacement by a new fuse link after the fuse element has melted and before the fuse can be put back into service; "IEC" followed by a number or a combination of letters and numbers means the International Standard in the publication of that number or that combination of letters and numbers issued by the International Electrotechnical Commission; "plug" (插頭) means a device, other than a cable connector or an appliance coupler, which may be engaged with a socket and which is designed for the purpose of connecting to a socket any electrical product to which the device is attached by means of a flexible cable or cord; "rated current" (額定電流值) means the current assigned to an electrical product by its manufacturer; "socket" (插座) means a device, other than a cable connector, with which a plug may be engaged for the purpose of connecting to an electrical circuit, whether or not by means of a switch, an electrical product to which a plug is attached. (2) In this Regulation- (a) where a standard is referred to, the reference is a reference to the standard as it had effect on the commencement of this Regulation; (b) where a standard referred to in this Regulation specifies a requirement by reference to another standard, the reference is to be construed as a reference to that other standard as it had effect on the commencement of this Regulation; and (c) a reference to an International Standard or a British Standard, of a particular number published on, or to come into effect on, a particular date is a reference to the International Standard or British Standard Specification of that number published by the International Electrotechnical Commission or the British Standards Institution on, or to come into effect on, the date in question. (Enacted 1994) "adaptor" (適配接頭) "appliance coupler" (器具聯接器) "BS" "cable connector" (電纜接頭) "EN" "fuse element" (熔斷元件) "fuse link" (熔斷連桿) "IEC" "plug" (插頭) "rated current" (額定電流值) "socket" (插座) PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) REGULATION - SECT 3 (Repealed L.N. 187 of 1997) VerDate:29/05/1998 PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) - SECT 3 Application to plugs and adaptors VerDate:30/06/1997 (1) This Regulation applies to any plug or adaptor which is designed for household use at a voltage of not less than 200V alternating current single phase whether it is supplied as a loose part or fitted to an electrical product. (2) This Regulation does not apply to- (a) a plug or adaptor under transhipment or in transit through Hong Kong or manufactured for export from Hong Kong; or (b) a plug inside or forming an integral part of an electrical equipment which is so designed that the plug is not capable of being engaged with or disengaged from the socket without something first being done to the electrical equipment which requires the use of a tool; or (c) a plug or adaptor specified in Schedule 1. (Enacted 1994) PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) REGULATION - SECT 4 (Repealed L.N. 187 of 1997) VerDate:29/05/1998 PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) - SECT 4 Safety standards of plugs and adaptors VerDate:30/06/1997 No person shall sell or hire out to any person, or exhibit or keep for the purpose of sale or hire out, a plug or adaptor unless the plug or adaptor- (a) conforms to one of the designs described in column 2 of Schedule 2; and (b) conforms to the safety standards stipulated in column 3 of Schedule 2 against the corresponding design. (Enacted 1994) PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) REGULATION - SECT 5 (Repealed L.N. 187 of 1997) VerDate:29/05/1998 PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) - SECT 5 Safety requirement for electrical products VerDate:30/06/1997 (1) Subject to subsection (2), no person shall sell or hire out to any person, or exhibit or keep for the purpose of sale or hire out, an electrical product which is- (a) designed to operate at a voltage of not less than 200V; (b) designed to operate at a maximum rated current of not more than 15A; (c) designed to be connected by means of a flexible cord and plug to a socket and is designed to be so connected directly without the use of a cable connector; and (d) designed for household use, unless the electrical product is fitted with a plug of correct rating which conforms to the safety standards prescribed in section 4. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an electrical product which is- (a) under transhipment or in transit through Hong Kong; (b) manufactured for export from Hong Kong; (c) sold for reconditioning; (d) sold as scrap; or (e) fitted with a plug which is of correct rating and conforms to IEC 884-1: Plugs and Socket Outlets for Household Use and Similar Purposes and is fitted with an adaptor which- (i) when connected to a mains socket in Hong Kong, provides a safety level equivalent to that of plugs that conform to the safety standards prescribed in this Regulation; (ii) encloses the plug; and (iii) can be removed only with the use of a tool. (3) For an electrical product in which protection against electric shock does not rely on basic insulation only but which includes an additional safety precaution in which conductive accessible parts are connected to the protective earthing conductor in the fixed electrical installation in such a way that conductive accessible parts cannot become live in the event of a failure of the basic insulation, the equivalent safety level in subsection (2)(e)(i) requires that the IEC 884-1 plug to be fitted to the electrical product must have earthing provision so that, when fitted with the adaptor, the earthing continuity from the conductive accessible parts of the electrical product to the mains earthing system of the fixed installation will be maintained. (Enacted 1994) PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) REGULATION - SECT 6 (Repealed L.N. 187 of 1997) VerDate:29/05/1998 PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) - SECT 6 Offences VerDate:30/06/1997 A person who contravenes section 4 or 5 commits an offence and is liable- (a) on first conviction to a fine at level 5 and imprisonment for 6 months; (b) on second or subsequent conviction to a fine at level 6 and imprisonment for 6 months. (Enacted 1994) PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) REGULATION - SECT 7 (Repealed L.N. 187 of 1997) VerDate:29/05/1998 PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) - SECT 7 Defence of due diligence VerDate:30/06/1997 (1) It is a defence in a proceeding against a person for an offence under section 6 if the person charged shows that he took all reasonable steps and exercised all due diligence to avoid committing the offence. (2) Where in any proceedings the defence under subsection (1) involves an allegation that the commission of the offence was due- (a) to the act or default of another person; or (b) to reliance on information given by another, the person charged is not, without the leave of the court, entitled to rely on the defence unless, not less than 7 clear working days before the hearing of the proceedings, he has served a notice on the person bringing the proceedings giving such information identifying or assisting in the identification of the person who committed the act or default or gave the information that was in the possession of the person serving the notice at the time he served it. (3) A person is not entitled to rely on the defence under subsection (1) by reason of his reliance on information given by another person, unless he shows that it was reasonable in all the circumstances for him to have relied on the information, having regard in particular- (a) to the steps which he took, and those which might reasonably have been taken, for the purpose of verifying the information; and (b) to whether he had any reason to disbelieve the information. (Enacted 1994) PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) REGULATION - SCHEDULE 1 (Repealed L.N. 187 of 1997) VerDate:29/05/1998 PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) - SCHEDULE 1 VerDate:30/06/1997 SCHEDULE 1 (section 3(2)(c)) PLUGS AND ADAPTORS TO WHICH THIS REGULATION DOES NOT APPLY 1. A plug or adaptor which incorporates any other electrical equipment (other than a fuse link, switch or indicator light). 2. A travel adaptor (that is to say, an adaptor which is not designed to engage with the Hong Kong socket system but enables a plug designed for use in Hong Kong to be connected to a socket used outside Hong Kong). 3. A plug forming part of a ceiling rose connector (that is to say, a connector designed to hold up overhead electric lighting fittings). 4. A plug forming part of a luminaire comprising a track system for electric lights and their fittings. 5. A plug forming part of an audio-visual assembly (that is to say, a plug designed to be connected to the socket installed within the audio-visual assembly and not suitable for connection to the Hong Kong mains socket system). (Enacted 1994) PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) REGULATION - SCHEDULE 2 (Repealed L.N. 187 of 1997) VerDate:29/05/1998 PLUGS AND ADAPTORS (SAFETY) - SCHEDULE 2 VerDate:30/06/1997 SCHEDULE 2 (section 4) SAFETY STANDARDS Item Design of plug or adaptor Safety standards 1. 3-rectangular-pin fused plugs rated at 13A BS 1363 or BS 5733(1) 2. 3-round-pin plugs rated at 5A or 15A BS 546 or BS 5733(2) 3. 2-pin reversible plugs for shavers BS 4573 or EN 50075 4. 13A 3-rectangular-pin adaptors designed to BS 1363: Part 3 engage with sockets conforming to BS 1363 5. 5A 3-round-pin adaptors designed to engage BS 546(3) with sockets conforming to BS 546 6. 15A 3-round-pin adaptors designed to engage BS 546(4) with sockets conforming to BS 546 --------------------------------------------------------------------------- (1) For a 13A plug which is tested to BS 5733, the construction and dimensions of the plug pins, markings on the plug and fuse links shall comply with BS 1363. (2) For a 5A or 15A plug which is tested to BS 5733, the construction and dimensions of the plug pins and the markings on the plug shall comply with BS 546. (3) Despite the requirements stipulated in BS 546- (a) a 5A adaptor protected by fuse links conforming to BS 1362 is permitted; and (b) a 5A adaptor with not more than three 5A sockets protected by one 5A main fuse links conforming to BS 646 or BS 1362 is permitted. (4) Despite the requirements stipulated in BS 546- (a) a 15A adaptor protected by fuse links conforming to BS 1362 is permitted; (b) the 15A non-fused socket of a 15A adaptor may be replaced by a 13A non-fused socket, the construction and dimensions of which shall comply with BS 1363; (c) a 15A adaptor fitted with a 15A or 13A non-fused socket and not more than two 5A sockets which are protected by one 5A main fuse link conforming to BS 646 or BS 1362 is permitted; and (d) a 15A adaptor with not more than three 5A sockets which are protected by one 5A main fuse link conforming to BS 646 or BS 1362 is permitted. Note: The safety standards referred to in this Regulation are- BS 546 Specification for two-pole and earthing-pin plugs, socket-outlets and socket-outlet adaptors BS 646 Specification for cartridge fuse links (rated at up to 5A) for A.C. and D.C. service BS 1362 Specification for general purpose fuse links for domestic and similar purposes (primarily for use in plugs) BS 1363 Specification for 13A fused plugs and switched and unswitched socket-outlets BS 1363: Part 3 Specification for 13A plugs, socket-outlets and adaptors (specification for adaptors) BS 4573 Specification for 2-pin reversible plugs and shaver socket-outlets BS 5733 Specification for general requirements for electrical accessories EN 50075 Specification for flat non-wirable two-pole plugs, 2.5A 250V, with cord, for the connection of class II equipment for household and similar purposes (Enacted 1994)