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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 1977
NEW WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION LAW NOW IN FORCE
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A NEW LAW PROVIDING WORKERS WITH MEDICAL BENEFITS IN CASE OF INJURIES SUFFERED AT WORK COMES INTO EFFECT TODAY (FRIDAY).
THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) ORDINANCE 1977, WHICH WAS APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAST WEDNESDAY, REQUIRES EMPLOYERS TO PAY MEDICAL EXPENSES RELATED TO TREATMENT FOR INJURIES SUFFERED BY THE IR EMPLOYEES IN THE COURSE OF THE IR EMPLOYMENT.
UNDER THIS LAW AN INJURED WORKMAN IS ENTITLED TO CLAIM MEDICAL EXPENSES ACTUALLY INCURRED UP TO A MAXIMUM CALCULATED AT THE RATE OF $10 EACH DAY FOR OUT-PATIENT TREATMENT AND $20 EACH DAY FOR IN- PATIENT CARE IN A HOSPITAL, AND HE CAN CLAIM SUCH MEDICAL EXPENSES FOR A MAXIMUM PERIOD OF 24 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE INJURY.
THE DAILY RATE OF MEDICAL EXPENSES WILL BE KEPT UNDER REGULAR REVIEW BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IN CONSULTATION WITH THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES AND WILL BE REVISED AS NECESSARY.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID THAT A STUDY HAD BEEN MADE OF THE STANDARDS ADOPTED IN SEVEN NEIGHBOURING ASIAN COUNTRIES — JAPAN, THAILAND, MALAYSIA, THE PHILIPPINES, SINGAPORE, TAIWAN AND THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA. THE STUDY SHOWED THAT THESE COUNTRIES ALL PROVIDED MEDICAL CARE AND ALLIED BENEFITS IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER, EITHER AS AN EMPLOYER'S LIABILITY OR THROUGH INSURANCE SCHEMES TO WHICH EMPLOYERS WERE REQUIRED TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS.
THE NEW LAW NOW PLACES HONG KONG IN A COMPARABLE POSITION WITH ITS NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES IN THIS FIELD, HE ADDED.
LABOUR MPS TO VISIT HONG KONG ******
TWO LABOUR MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, MR. BRYAN DAVIES (ENFIELD NORTH) AND MR. JOHN CARTWRIGHT (GREENWICH-WOOLWICH EAST) WILL ARRIVE IN HONG KONG ON JANUARY 2 FOR A TEN-DAY OFFICIAL VISIT.
DURING THE IR STAY, THE MPS WILL MEET THE GOVERNOR, SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS AS WELL AS THE COMMISSIONER OF THE INDEPENDENT COMMISSION AGAINST CORRUPTION.
THEIR ITINERARY ALSO INCLUDES VISITS TO FACTORIES, THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC AND SHA TIN NEW TOWN. THEY WILL HAVE PLENTY OF FREE TIME TO MEET PEOPLE AND GO TO PLACES THEY WISH TO SEE ON THEIR OWN.
THEY ARE EXPECTED TO MEET MEMBERS OF THE PRESS BEFORE THEY LEAVE HONG KONG ON JANUARY 12.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
MR. DAVIES AND MR. CARTWRIGHT ARE EXPECTED TO ARRIVE ON JANUARY 2 BY FLIGHT BA 870 (E.T.A. 6.55 P.M.).
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