FRIDAY, APRIL 23, 1993

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"IF A PRE-1981 PNEUMOCONIOTIC DIES AS A RESULT OF THE DISEASE, A SUM NOT EXCEEDING $10,000 WILL BE PAYABLE FOR HIS FUNERAL EXPENSES, MRS HO SAID, ADDING THAT BOTH THE AMOUNT OF EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS AND THE FUNERAL EXPENSES WILL BE INFLATION-ADJUSTED ANNUALLY.

"WE INTEND TO IMPLEMENT THE TWO SCHEMES AT THE SAME TIME то PROVIDE IMPROVED BENEFITS TO ALL PNEUMOCONIOTICS.

"WE HOPE THAT BOTH SCHEMES COULD COME INTO OPERATION WITHIN ONE MONTH AFTER THE ENACTMENT OF THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS (COMPENSATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993.

"WE

SHALL ISSUE LETTERS TO THE PNEUMOCONIOTICS INFORMING THEM OF THEIR RIGHT TO CLAIM FURTHER BENEFITS AND INVITING THEM ΤΟ MAKE APPLICATIONS," SHE ADDED.

ENQUIRIES ON PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION CAN BE MADE ΤΟ THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION UNIT ON TEL 852 4034.

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INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1993

* *

THE INTERPRETATION AND GENERAL CLAUSES { AMENDMENT} BILL 1993 IS GAZETTED TODAY (FRIDAY).

THE BILL PROVIDES THAT WHERE SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION HAS BEEN MADE BY THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL SETTING A FEE OR CHARGE, THE POWER 'TO VARY THE FEE OR CHARGE MAY IN ADDITION BE EXERCISED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY.

ΤΟ

DIRECT THAT FEES SHOULD

THE BILL WILL EMPOWER THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL THE COUNCIL'S APPROVAL FOR THE REVISION OF PARTICULAR CONTINUE TO BE SOUGHT.

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: "THERE IS A NEED ΤΟ REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF ROUTINE ADMINISTRATIVE WORK PUT BEFORE THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL SO AS TO ALLOW THE COUNCIL MORE TIME TO FOCUS ON BROADER POLICY AND STRATEGIC ISSUES. THE BILL WILL HELP ΤΟ ACHIEVE THIS OBJECTIVE.'

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HE EMPHASISED THAT SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION WOULD CONTINUE TO TABLED AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AS AT PRESENT.

THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL'S POWER TO MONITOR AND PROPOSALS WOULD THUS NOT BE IN ANY WAY AFFECT, HE SAID.

"THE BILL WILL NOT APPLY TO FEES FOR WHICH THE THAT THE SPECIFIC APPROVAL OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL HE ADDED.

BE

CHALLENGE FEE

LAW REQUIRES

OBTAINED,

BE

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