18
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1981
IMPROVED EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS FOR WORKERS
****
FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO THE EMPLOYEE'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE COVERING THE INTRODUCTION OF COMPULSORY INSURANCE, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MORE EFFECTIVE MACHINERY FOR ASSESSING COMPENSATION, AND MEASURES TO EXPEDITE SETTLEMENT OF COMPENSATION CLAIMS WILL BE
INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DURING THE CURRENT SESSION, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID TODAY.
THESE ARE IN ADDITION TO THE PROVISION OF IMPROVED SICK LEAVE ENTITLEMENT AND A DEATH GRANT TO BE INTRODUCED UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE. CONSIDERATION WILL ALSO BE GIVEN TO IMPROVING THE CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE AWARD OF SEVERANCE PAY.
SIR MURRAY SAID HE ALSO HAD CALLED FOR A CAREFUL STUDY OF SIR S.Y. CHUNG'S SUGGESTION OF A COUNCIL FOR OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY.
ON INDUSTRIAL HEALTH AND SAFETY, SIR MURRAY SAID A CONSULTANT IN OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH HAD BEEN APPOINTED TO HEAD THE INDUSTRIAL HEALTH DIVISION AND TO EXPAND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH SERVICES.
SIR MURRAY SAID THAT FURTHER REGULATIONS ON THE SAFE USE OF ELECTRICITY, PROTECTION OF WORKERS' HEARING AND THE EMPLOYMENT OF SAFETY OFFICERS AND SAFETY SUPERVISORS IN HAZARDOUS INDUSTRIES WOULD BE MADE SHORTLY.
BIG DROP IN NUMBER OF DRUG ADDICTS
THE NUMBER OF DRUG ADDICTS IN HONG KONG IS NOW BELIEVED TO BE ABOUT 40 000 AS AGAINST A GUESS OF OVER 100 000 SEVEN YEARS AGO.
THIS WAS REVEALED TODAY BY THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
SIR MURRAY ATTRIBUTED THIS RESULT TO THE VERY EFFECTIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMPULSORY AND VOLUNTARY TREATMENT IN HONG KONG
STATING THAT HONG KONG STILL HAD A LARGE PROBLEM WHICH WAS BEING TACKLED WITH "IGOUR AND SUCCESS, SIR MURRAY ADDED, HOWEVER, +WE HAVE COME A LONG WAY IN CONTROLLING NARCOTICS, NO ONE WHO KNOWS POINTS A FINGER AT HONG KONG ANYMORE.+
REFERRING TO THIS YEAR'S BUMPER CROP OF OPIUM IN THE GOLDEN TRIANGLE WHICH HAD PRODUCED AN ABUNDANT SUPPLY, HE SAID THERE WERE PLENTY OF SIGNS OF CRIMINALS TRYING TO DISTRIBUTE IT HERE, INCLUDING THE USE OF YOUNG PEOPLE.
TO MEET THIS THREAT, HE SAID, LAW ENFORCEMENT WAS BEING STEPPED UP AND SO FAR THIS YEAR MORE DRUGS HAD BEEN SEIZED THAN IN THE WHOLE OF LAST YEAR.
/19
Page 20Page 21