FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 1988
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF THE COUNCIL BE CLEARLY DEFINED AND THE SCOPE OF THE ACTIVITIES IN THIS AREA WOULD BE REDUCED SO AS OF EFFORT.
WOULD
LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S TO AVOID DUPLICATION
"SPECIFICALLY, THE CREATION OF THE COUNCIL WILL ENABLE THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TO CONCENTRATE ITS RESOURCES ON PREPARING, REVIEWING AND ENFORCING LEGISLATION RELATING TO OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ANY ADVICE WHICH THE COUNCIL OFFERS, HE SAID.
H
"IN OTHER WORDS, THE DEPARTMENT WOULD CONTINUE TO TAKE A BROAD APPROACH TO THE ENFORCEMENT OF LEGISLATION WHILE THE COUNCIL WOULD ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE MORE GENERAL FUNCTIONS THAT ARE NOW CARRIED OUT BY THE DEPARTMENT.
THE MAIN SOURCE OF FINANCE FOR THE COUNCIL WILL DERIVE FROM LEVY ON EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION INSURANCE PREMIA, THE RATE OF WHICH WILL BE PRESCRIBED BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL.
IT IS ESTIMATED THAT A ONE PER CENT LEVY WILL YIELD ABOUT $7 MILLION A YEAR.
SINCE THE WORK OF THE COUNCIL WILL AFFECT THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH OF ALL EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING CIVIL SERVANTS, THE GOVERNMENT SHALL MAKE PAYMENTS TO THE COUNCIL EACH YEAR WHICH SHALL BEAR THE SAME RELATION TO THE TOTAL LEVY COLLECTED AS THE SIZE OF THE CIVIL SERVICE BEARS TO THE TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN HONG KONG.
THE SIZE OF THE CONTRIBUTION IN THE FIRST YEAR WILL BE APPROXIMATELY $0.5 MILLION.
THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WILL BE REQUESTED TO MAKE A GRANT OF UP TO $5.5 MILLION TO THE COUNCIL TO ENABLE IT ΤΟ OPERATE DURING THE INITIAL STAGE BEFORE LEVY INCOME BEGINS TO BE RECEIVED.
1
THE BILL, IF ENACTED, WILL TAKE EFFECT ON A DATE ΤΟ BE GAZETTED SOMETIME IN AUGUST THIS YEAR.
HOWEVER, THE PROVISIONS GOVERNING THE LEVY, OBJECTIONS APPEALS WILL COME INTO OPERATION ON JANUARY 1, 1989.
AND
THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD HAS BEEN CONSULTED AND ENDORSED THE PROPOSAL TO ESTABLISH THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL.
THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE FIRST AND SECOND READINGS ON JUNE 29.
LEGISLATIVE
13
COUNCIL FOR