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It follows
therefore that the
levy on the
quarry and construction industries which finances the
work of the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund Board
should be kept under review to ensure that, with an
appropriate safety margin, no more money is collected
than is necessary to carry out the Board's functions,
most importantly the payment of compensation.
now considers that it has more than enough money to
carry out its functions and has, correctly, recommended
to the Government that the rate of the levy be reduced.
The Board
As Mr. Ho is
is aware, the Fund Board, among its
other functions, keeps a close watch on trends in its
income and expenditure and I have no doubt that it will
recommend to the Government a further reduction in the
rate of levy if this seems desirable.
would be reluctant to
While sympathizing with Mr. Ho's motives, I
consider an expansion of the
functions of the
the Fund Board. Education, publicity and
research in connection with occupational diseases are
desirable activities, but they should be undertaken in a
co-ordinated manner with other industrial safety and
Occupational health matters as resources and priorities
allow. To use part of the levy on the construction and
for these purposes would entail
quarry
treating
industries
this
particular
aspect
of
employees'
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