WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1975.
COMPENSATION FOR WORKMEN SUFFERING FROM SILICOSIS
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THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. IAN PRICE, TODAY (WEDNESDAY) CUTLINES THE MAIN DIFFICULTY INVOLVED IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A COMISATION SCHEME FOR WORKERS SUFFERING FROM SILICOSIS.
HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON, OSWALD CHEUNG ON WHAT PROGRESS HAD BEEN MADE IN THE INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION FOR SUCH A SPECIAL COMPENSATION SCHEME.
*THE MAIN DIFFICULTY YET TO BE RESOLVED, MR. PRICE POINTED OUT, +ARISES FROM THE LONG PERIOD WHICH USUALLY ELAPSES AFTER SILICOSIS HAS BEEN CONTRACTED AND BEFORE IT BECOMES EVIDENT AND DURING THIS PERIOD THE WORKMAN MAY HAVE BEEN ENGAGED BY A NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS.+
HOWEVER, HE SAID HE WAS, STILL HOPEFUL THAT WITH THE CO-OPERATION OF THE ACCIDENT INSURANCE ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG, HE WOULD BE ABLE TO RESOLVE THE MAIN PROBLEMS OF HOW LIABILITY FOR THE PAYMENT OF WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION COULD BE APPORTIONED DETWEEN A NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS.
WHATEVER SCHEME WAS EVENTUALLY PRODUCED, MR. PRICE WARNED, CONSIDERABLE GOVERNMENT FUNDS WOULD BE INVOLVED AND TO OBTAIN SUCH MONEY, THE SCHEME WOULD HAVE TO +TAKE ITS PLACE IN THE QUEUE WITH REQUESTS FOR MONEY FOR OTHER HIGHLY DESIRABLE PROJECTS.+
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