UN
5
WEDNESDAY, MAY 25, 1988
BUT THE INCUBATION PERIOD FOR PNEUMOCONIOSIS COULD BE AS LONG AS 10 OR EVEN 40 YEARS, MR TAM SAID.
SO IT WOULD BE TOO OPTIMISTIC TO SET THE TREND OF THE FUND'S EXPENDITURE ON THE BASIS OF THE APPARENT NUMBER OF CASES AND THE TREND OF COMPENSATION PAYMENTS.
'A VAST RESERVE IN THE FUND SHOULD BE THE BEST HEDGE AGAINST A FUTURE RAINY DAY, HE SAID.
FI
HE ALSO DISAGREED WITH THE ARGUMENT THAT THE RATE OF LEVY COULD BE RAISED IN THE FUTURE, IF AND WHEN NECESSARY.
IT WAS ALL TOO NATURAL THAT REDUCTION IN CHARGES WAS EASILY ACCEPTABLE WHILE ANY INCREASES WERE BOUND TO BE DIFFICULT ΤΟ INTRODUCE, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY INVOLVED CONTRIBUTION FROM EMPLOYERS, HE SAID.
MR TAM ALSO SAID THAT THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER HAD BEEN MISLEADING IN SAYING THAT DESPITE THE SHARP CUTS IN THE RATE OF LEVY IN THE PAST AND DESPITE THE EXTENSION OF THE SCOPE OF THE FUND TO INCLUDE PREVENTIVE WORK SUCH AS RESEARCH AND EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY, THE ACCUMULATED SURPLUS HAD CONTINUED TO INCREASE.
THIS ARGUMENT WAS MISLEADING BECAUSE THE RESEARCH COMMITTEE THAT HAD BEEN SET UP BY THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION FUND BOARD WAS STILL IN A PREPARATORY STAGE ONLY.
WHEN RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY WORK HAD ACTUALLY STARTED, THE EXPENDITURE OF THE FUND WOULD INCREASE, SUBSTANTIALLY HE SAID.
FURTHERMORE, EXPENDITURE WOULD RISE IF THOSE SUFFERING FROM THE DISEASE COULD BE GIVEN A BETTER DEAL, SUCH AS A LONG-TERM PAYMENT IN ADDITION TO A LUMP SUM, AND AN ANNUAL MEDICAL CHECK WAS PROVIDED FOR THOSE WHO WERE MORE VULNERABLE TO THE DISEASE.
PROVISION FOR REVIEW OF DECISION
* * * *
THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT} BILL 1988. PASSENGER SERVICE LICENCES, WAS INTRODUCED INTO COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY}.
THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON MICHAEL THE PURPOSES OF THE BILL IN MOVING ITS SECOND READING.
WHICH CONCERNS THE LEGISLATIVE
LEUNG, EXPLAINED
/HE SAID