XN000022-1973-01-19 — Page 15

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Friday, January 19, 1973

WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1973

The Workmen's Compensation (Amendment) Ordinance 1973,

which becomes effective today (January 19), will bring the percentages

of loss of earning capacity for certain categories of injuries in the

First Schedule of the principal Ordinance more in line with international

standards.

Commenting on the amendment ordinance, Mr. David Lin,

Assistant Commissioner of Labour, said: "Experience in the administration

of the ordinance revealed that the First Schedule does not deal

adequately with certain cases involving the loss of more than one finger.

*The amendment ensures that the aggregate percentages for the

loss of individual fingers involving the index, middle, ring and little

fingers will be the same as the percentage for the loss of all these

four fingers at one time. This will facilitate medical assessment

of injuries to fingers.

"The percentage for the loss of a toe, other than the

great toe, will be raised to 2 percent if more than one toe is lost;

for loss of hearing of one ear, the percentage will be raised to

20 percent and for total loss of hearing to 70 percent.

"The Accident Insurance Association of Hong Kong, which has

been consulted, considers that there is no need to increase insurance

premia after the increased benefits are incorporated into the Workmen's

Compensation Ordinance."

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