MONDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1989
THE "APPALLING
MR YEUNG ATTRIBUTED
SITUATION" ΤΟ GENERALLY POOR WORKING ENVIRONMENTS. THE LACK OR TOTAL ABSENCE OF SUPERVISION AND THE PROFIT MOTIVE WHICH HAD DRIVEN DEVELOPERS CONTRACTORS TOWARDS THE ACHIEVEMENT OF VERY TIGHT TIME LIMITS.
SITE
AND
THE
CALLING ON EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES TO JOIN FORCES WITH GOVERNMENT TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION. HE SAID THE PACTORY INSPECTORATE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WAS CONCENTRATING IT'S RESOURCES ON THE INSPECTION OF CONSTRUCTION SITES AND "THIS IS BEGINNING TO HAVE SOME EFFECT ON REDUCING THE NUMBER 0F ACCIDENTS DURING THE RAINY SEASON”.
MR YEUNG URGED EMPLOYERS TO REVIEW THEIR PROCEDURES TO SEE IF THE MANAGEMENT OF WORK SITES COULD BE IMPROVED IN THE INTEREST OF SAFETY.
HE ALSO ASKED PRINCIPAL. CONTRACTORS TO ENSURE EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION AND COORDINATION. ON THE WORK SITE WHILE EMPLOYEES SHOULD COOPERATE WITH THE MANAGEMENT IN ENSURING SAFETY.
HE ALSO TOLD THE 460 PARTICIPANTS IN THE CONFERENCE THAT HONG KONG HAD A LOT TO LEARN FROM JAPAN'S EXPERIENCE AS THE COUNTRY HAD THE BEST SAFETY RECORD IN THE ASIA PACIFIC REGION. PARTICULARLY CONSTRUCTION.
IN
SECRETARY FOR SECURITY REFUTES UNHCR ALLEGATIONS
* * * * *
THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY. MR GEOFFREY BARNES, TODAY (MONDAY) REFUTED "UNFOUNDED" ALLEGATIONS BY THE UNHCR THAT UNDUE FORCE WAS USED DURING THE TRANSFER OF 48 VIETNAMESE BOAT PEOPLE FROM THE CHI MA WAN DETENTION CENTRE TO PHOENIX HOUSE.
REPLYING TO THE UNHCR ALLEGATION, MR BARNES POINTED OUT THAT THERE WAS NO TRUTH WHATSOEVER IN THE ACCUSATION THAT PEOPLE AT CHI WAN WERE RENDERED UNCONSCIOUS AND HAD TO BE REVIVED BY NURSES.
MA
HE ALSO SAID THAT X-RAYS AND FURTHER MEDICAL REPORTS HAD CONFIRMED THAT NO FRACTURED RIB WAS SUSTAINED BY A VIETNAMESE AS HAD BEEN ALLEGED BY THE UNHOR.
MR BARNES' COMMENTS
FOLLOWED AN EXAMINATION OF REPORTS
RECEIVED FROM THE UNHOR.
I BELIEVE THAT THE CORRECTIONAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT (CSD) AND POLICE OFFICERS INVOLVFD DISCHARGED THEIR DUTIES WITH GREAT RESTRAINT AND PATIENCE.' HE SAID.
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/MR BARNES