9
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1994
KONG
(D)
TO TO THE
IT MODERNISES AND RATIONALISES THE LAW RELATING SEAFARERS SO THAT IT BECOMES FULLY COMPLEMENTARY MERCHANT SHIPPING (REGISTRATION) ORDINANCE
ESTABLISHED THE HONG KONG SHIPPING REGISTER.
WHICH
HONG
MR PRESIDENT, SEAFARING IS A LONG ESTABLISHED PROFESSION. NOW HAS A VERY COMPREHENSIVE SYSTEM OF LAWS DEALING WITH THE EMPLOYMENT AND CERTIFICATION OF SEAFARERS. THIS IS IN LINE WITH THE STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES WHICH ARE WIDELY RECOGNISED AND PRACTISED IN OTHER MAJOR MARITIME JURISDICTIONS. IT IS NECESSARY THAT WE CONTINUE ALL THESE EXISTING WELL PROVEN ARRANGEMENTS AFTER 1997 SO THAT WE CAN MAINTAIN HONG KONG'S POSITION AS ONE OF THE WORLD'S MAJOR MARITIME CENTRES. THE BILL WILL HELP TO ACHIEVE THAT END.
0
—
OCCUPATIONAL DEAFNESS (COMPENSATION) BILL
* * * * *
FOLLOWING IS THE SPEECH BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR LAM WOON-KWONG, IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE OCCUPATIONAL DEAFNESS (COMPENSATION) BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
TODAY (WEDNESDAY);
MR PRESIDENT,
I MOVE THE SECOND READING OF THE OCCUPATIONAL DEAFNESS (COMPENSATION) BILL.
THE
BILL SEEKS TO SET UP A SCHEME FOR COMPENSATING EMPLOYEES SUFFERING FROM OCCUPATIONAL DEAFNESS DUE TO PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO EXCESSIVE NOISE IN THE WORKPLACE, AND TO ESTABLISH THE OCCUPATIONAL DEAFNESS COMPENSATION BOARD TO ADMINISTER THE SCHEME. TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR COMPENSATION, AN APPLICANT SHOULD BE SUFFERING FROM SUBSTANTIAL HEARING LOSS WHICH AMOUNTS TO SEVERE DIFFICULTY IN UNDERSTANDING HUMAN SPEECH AND MUST HAVE AT LEAST TEN YEARS OF EMPLOYMENT IN SPECIFIED NOISY OCCUPATIONS IN HONG KONG. BESIDES, HE SHOULD HAVE A PERIOD CONTINUOUS EMPLOYMENT IN A SPECIFIED NOISY OCCUPATION WITHIN THE 12 MONTHS PRECEDING THE APPLICATION FOR COMPENSATION.
OF
ELIGIBLE FOR
IN ADDITION, A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN UNDER CONTINUOUS EMPLOYMENT IN A SPECIFIED NOISY OCCUPATION WITHIN THE 24 MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SCHEME WOULD BE COMPENSATION IF HE FULFILS THE OTHER DISABILITY AND OCCUPATIONAL REQUIREMENTS. THE INTENTION IS TO COVER PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN ENGAGED IN NOISY OCCUPATIONS BUT HAVE LEFT SUCH EMPLOYMENT IN THE TWO YEARS BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE SCHEME.
PERIOD OF
/REGARDING THE
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