TUESDAY, MAY 20, 1980
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HOWEVER, IT POINTS OUT THAT THE RATE OF INCREASE IN WORLD PRICES IN GENERAL AND FOR OIL IN PARTICULAR HAS BEEN HIGHER THAN EXPECTED, AND SO HONG KONG HAS BEEN IMPORTING INFLATION.
COMMENTING ON THE REPORT, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID IT WAS ENCOURAGING TO SEE THE ECONOMY ON AN EXPORT-LED GROWTH PATH AGAIN.
HE THOUGHT THE CLOSER BALANCE BETWEEN THE DEMAND FOR DOMESTIC RESOURCES AND THE SUPPLY OF THEM WOULD PROVIDE A DAMPENING EFFECT ON INFLATION, BUT HE ADDED THAT WHILE THE ECONOMY WOULD PROBABLY CONTINUE TO DO WELL IN THE COMING MONTHS, PROSPECTS FOR THE LAST QUARTER OF THIS YEAR REMAINED UNCERTAIN.
THE FIRST QUARTER ECONOMIC REPORT 1980 IS NOW ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT $8 A COPY.
INDUSTRIES SHOULD HAVE SAFETY OFFICERS ******
THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IS CURRENTLY HOLDING CONSULTATIONS WITH INTERESTED PARTIES BEFORE INTRODUCING FIRM PROPOSALS FOR LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REQUIRE LARGE COMPANIES IN THE MORE HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIES TO EMPLOY FULL-TIME SAFETY OFFICERS.
COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR J.N. HENDERSON, SAID TODAY (TUESDAY) THE MOVE, BEING CONSIDERED IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD'S COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND ACCIDENT PREVENTION, WAS JUST ONE OF MANY STEPS BEING TAKEN TO STOP THE RISING NUMBER OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS IN HONG KONG.
+THE GOVERNMENT HAS LONG MAINTAINED THAT HONG KONG'S PROSPERITY SHOULD NOT BE ACHIEVED AT THE EXPENSE OF THE LIVES AND LIMBS OF ITS WORKFORCE, AND IS DETERMINED TO USE EVERY AVAILABLE MEANS WITHIN ITS POWER TO REDUCE THE TOLL OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS, HE SAID.
MR HENDERSON, SPEAKING AT A ROTARY CLUB OF HONGKONG LUNCHEON, ALSO WELCOMED PROPOSALS TO INTRODUCE TWO PERMANENT CORONERS AND THEREFORE SPEEDING UP INQUEST PROCEDURES.
THIS HAS MY FULLEST SUPPORT. AND MUCH MORE CAN IN FUTURE BE ACHIEVED BY THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE WITH THE OPEN INQUIRY THAT IS THE CORONER'S PEROGATIVE IN EXPOSING CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS.+
HE ADDED THAT DESPITE THESE EFFORTS THE NUMBER OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS WAS STILL INCREASING.
+THESE INCREASE, HOWEVER, HUST BE SEEN IN THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE EXPANDING INDUSTRIAL WORKFORCE ESPECIALLY IN THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD WHERE EXPERIENCED LABOUR IS BECOMING DILUTED IN ITS SUDDEN EXPANSION.
/+FURTHER, REPORTING