FRIDAY, JULY 25, 1980
5
THE MAXIMUM PAYMENT WOULD FOLLOW CLOSELY THE PROVISIONS OF THE EXISTING WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE, - 48 MONTHS EARNINGS FOR 100 PER CENT DISABILITY AND 36 MONTHS FOR DEATH, REGARDLESS OF AGE,
HOWEVER, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT, A FLAT $1 500 WAS TO BE TAKEN AS MONTHLY EARNINGS IRRESPECTIVE OF ACTUAL WAGES OF INDIVIDUAL PNEUMOCONIOTICS.
FOR EXAMPLE,
IF PERMANENT DISABILITY WAS ASSESSED AT 50 PER CENT, PAYMENT WOULD BE $1 500 X 48 (MONTHS) X 50 PER CENT - $36 000.
THE SPOKESMAN FURTHER POINTED OUT THAT PEOPLE ALREADY DIAGNOSED TO BE SUFFERING FROM THE DISEASE BY THE MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT WOULD BE NOTIFIED FOR MEDICAL ASSESSMENT.
WORKERS WHO SUSPECT THEMSELVES TO BE SUFFERING FROM THE DISEASE SHOULD EITHER CONSULT THEIR OWN DOCTOR OR APPROACH THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S INDUSTRIAL HEALTH UNIT AT 5TH FLOOR, CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES, YAU MA TEI, FOR ARRANGEMENTS OF X-RAY.
AFTER MEDICAL ASSESSMENT A PNEUMOCONIOTIC WOULD BE GIVEN
A CERTIFICATE ON THE DEGREE OF DISABILITY TO APPLY TO THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT FOR EX-GRATIA PAYMENT.
ANY ENQUIRY CONCERNING PAYMENTS SHOULD BE MADE TO THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S PNEUMOCONIOS IS COMPENSATION UNIT, TELEPHONE NOS. 3-688353 AND 3-687346.
BUREAUCRATIC RULES AND COMMERCIAL REALITIES IN TEXTILE QUOTAS
******
IN DEVISING THE RULES OF HONG KONG'S TEXTILE QUOTA SYSTEM WE HAVE HAD TO CONSIDER NOT ONLY THE BUREAUCRATIC RULES BUT ALSO THE COMMERCIAL REALITIES AND PRACTICALITIES, THE ACTING DIRECTOR OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, MR PETER TŠAO SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).
+IT WOULD BE RATHER TEMPTING AND QUITE EASY TO MAKE PERFECT RULES FOR QUOTA CONTROL. RULES THAT ARE SOUND IN LOGIC AND IN POLICY. WE COULD HAVE RULES WHICH CANNOT BE FAULTED AND WE COULD HAVE RULES WHICH ARE TOTALLY FAIR, HE TOLD THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON NORTH.
+BUT THE QUESTION THAT WE MUST ASK OURSELVES, AS ADMINISTRATORS OF THE SYSTEM, IS WHETHER SUCH RULES WILL MAKE COMMERCIAL SENSE? CAN TRADERS TRADE? CAN THEY TRADE IN SUCH A WAY AS TO OBTAIN THE MAXIMUM PROF ITS FOR THEMSELVES, THEREBY OBTAINING MAXIMUM PROF ITS FOR HONG KONG AS A WHOLE?+
WHILST TEXTILE QUOTAS RESTRICTED OUR EXPORTS AND LIMITED
OUR ACCESS RIGHTS TO OVERSEAS MARKETS, THEY ALSO GAVE A DEGREE OF CERTAINTY TO THE TRADE. IT WAS UP TO HONG KONG TO EXPLOIT IN FULL THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRADE.
+CUR AIN.