MONDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1987
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL GETS APPROVAL
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THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS AGREED IN PRINCIPLE THAT AN OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL SHOULD BE SET UP IN HONG KONG.
ANNOUNCING THIS TODAY (MONDAY}, A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE SETTING UP OF THE COUNCIL WOULD REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT STEP FORWARD IN THE PROMOTION OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH IN HONG KONG.
"IT WILL ADD FURTHER IMPETUS TO THE VOLUNTARY
SAFETY MOVEMENT THAT HAS BEEN GAINING MOMENTUM SINCE THE SETTING UP OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD'S COMMITTEE ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND ACCIDENT PREVENTION (NOW RE-NAMED THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COMMITTER) IN 1978, HE SAID.
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BE AN ITS
THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL WILL INDEPENDENT STATUTORY BODY WITH ITS OWN STAFF TO CARRY OUT FUNCTIONS, WHICH WILL COVER FOUR AREAS: EDUCATION AND TRAINING; INFORMATION AND PUBLICITY; CONSULTANCY SERVICES; AND RESEARCH.
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IT WILL CONSIST OF A CHAIRMAN AND NOT MORE THAN 20 MEMBERS, BE APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, REPRESENTING EMPLOYERS, EMPLOYEES, PROFESSIONAL AND ACADEMIC INTERESTS AND GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.
THE COUNCIL WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEVELOPING PROGRAMMES WITHIN ITS POWERS AND DUTIES FOR RAISING STANDARDS OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH, NOT ONLY IN INDUSTRY BUT IN ALL AREAS OF EMPLOYMENT.
"THE COUNCIL WILL HAVE A BUDGET OF ABOUT $5 MILLION FOR ITS FIRST YEAR, WITH EXPENDITURE IN FUTURE YEARS BEING SUBJECT TO REVIEW IN THE LIGHT OF THE COUNCIL'S DEVELOPMENT, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
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"WE HOPE TO GET THE COUNCIL STARTED IN 1988,1
1988," HE ADDED.
FOLLOWING THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL'S DECISION, THE GOVERNMENT WILL NOW HOLD DISCUSSIONS WITH THE VARIOUS PARTIES CONCERNED ON THE DETAILS OF THE FUNDING OF THE COUNCIL, WHICH WILL BE BY MEANS OF A LEVY ON EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION INSURANCE PREMIA.
MEANWHILE, WORK ON DRAFTING THE NECESSARY LEGISLATION TO ÈSTABLISH THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL IS UNDERWAY.
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