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EMPLOYMENT
Under the two-tier Employees' Compensation Assessment Board system, employees with work-related injuries which are likely to result in permanent incapacity are assessed by the boards at nine major hospitals in Hong Kong. In 1991, Ordinary Assessment Boards convened 522 sessions and completed assessment of 16 853 cases referred to them by the Commissioner for Labour and 1 426 review cases. No Special Assessment Boards were convened during the year.
A review of the compensation levels under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance and the Pneumoconiosis (Compensation) Ordinance was carried out during the year. Taking into account changes in wage levels since the last revision in 1990, the levels of compensation were increased by about 28 per cent with effect from January 1, 1992.
The Employees' Compensation Assistance Ordinance was enacted in May, establishing the Employees' Compensation Assistance Fund to make payments of statutory com- pensation and damages at common law due to an injured employee or his dependants when an employer defaults or an insurer becomes insolvent. The fund also covers claims from employers, in respect of employees' compensation and common law damages covered by an insurance policy, who fail to get indemnity because their insurers have become insolvent. The fund is financed by a levy on all employees' compensation insurance premiums.
In 1991, nine pneumoconiosis cases were awarded compensation amounting to $1,034,364. When compared with 1990, the amount of compensation payment has dropped. This was due to the temporary suspension of assessment by the Pneumoconiosis Medical Board pending the outcome of a judicial decision on an appeal case involving the principles of assessment adopted by the board. The Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund Board allocated $2 million to finance research, educational and publicity programmes to enhance awareness of pneumoconiosis and to promote prevention of the disease.
Telephone Enquiry Service
In 1991, the staff of the General Enquiry Telephone Service handled 69 843 public enquiries on the Employment Ordinance and its subsidiary regulations, Protection of Wages on Insolvency Ordinance, Employees' Compensation Ordinance and matters relating to the employment of foreign domestic helpers. Where appropriate, pre-recorded tapes in either Chinese or English were used to supplement the information given.