4
(c)
(d)
(i)
(ii)
prosecutions for not securely fencing dangerous machinery increased from 114(not 111) in 74/75 to 509 (not 530) for 1976.
the industrial workforce increased by 105.4% (not 20%) in the decade 1966 to 1976.
Regarding the sudden increase of industrial accidents to some 400% in the decade of 1966 to 1976, this is mainly due to the effect of the introduction of an amendment to the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance in 1969 requiring immediate reporting (within 7 days) of all industrial accidents irrespective of the seriousness of the injury. Consequently a very large number of the injury cases which were of a minor nature were also recorded. Besides, industrial accidents were automatically recorded at the casualty wards of all hospitals by health visitors (who are qualified nurses) on the staff of the Labour Department who are stationed there. So the significant increases in workmen's injury cases should not be interpreted to mean an absolute increase in industrial accidents. Instead it merely shows the result of a more comprehensive reporting system of industrial accidents.
Alleged Negative Attitude of the Hong Kong Government Officers
The alleged refusal of an interview requested by Lynne Watson or the Hong Kong Standard would seem to be at variance with her reference to a telephone interview (and a lengthy one at that) with an officer of the Labour Department covering the aspects of child employment, legal provisions controlling the employment of young persons etc.
International Year of the Child
The Hong Kong Covernment considers that the growth of its multifarious programmes of services for its children and youth in the medical and health, labour, social welfare, education as well as recreation and sports fields - and its even more ambitious plans for the next decade speak for themselves. Furthermore, these programmes of services to the children and young people of Hong Kong are but part of its overall social and community development plans. It is confident that when any fair-minded person takes stock after 1979 Hong Kong's progress in this whole field will have been a fitting recognition of the United Nations' International Year of the Child.
(e)
Conclusions
It is unfair to allege that social security in Hong Kong is inadequate without any attempt to understand what is actually being provided. In particular it will be more relevant to compare our provisions with those obtaining elsewhere in the Region, rather than in the more affluent developed countries. In this connection Hong Kong's/social security provisions are second to none in this Region, excluding Japan.
/At