XN000022-1974-06-07 — Page 2

FRIDAY, JUNE 7, 1974.

RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE

GREATER ATTENTION URGED

******

MR. DAVID LIN, ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF LABOUR TODAY (FRIDAY) URGED EMPLOYERS TO PAY GREATER ATTENTION TO FULFILLING THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES UNDER THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.

SPEAKING AT TODAY'S LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB CNORTH KOWLOON), MR. LIN POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG HAD ATTAINED ITS PRESENT STAGE OF INDUSTRIALISATION IN THE BRIEF PERIOD OF ABOUT 20 YEARS.

BUT DESPITE ITS RAPID PHYSICAL GROWTH, HONG KONG INDUSTRY HAD NOT ADVANCED AT AN EQUALLY RAPID PACE IN AREAS SUCH AS MANAGEMENT AND SAFETY.

MR. LIN SAID THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE WAS SOMETIMES NOT AS SUCCESSFULLY AS IT SHOULD BE, BECAUSE SOME EMPLOYERS PARTICULARLY IN SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ESTABLISHMENTS - WERE NEGLECTFUL IN OBSERVING THE LAW.

+MANY OF THE PROBLEMS WHICH THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT FACES IN ADMINISTERING THE ORDINANCE COULD BE SOLVED WITH MORE CO-OPERATION FROM THE EMPLOYERS,+ HE SAID.

MANY EMPLOYERS DID NOT REPORT TO THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WITHIN SEVEN DAYS WHEN A WORKER WAS INJURED AS A RESULT OF HIS EMPLOYMENT.

OTHERS DID NOT CONTINUE TO PAY AN INJURED WORKER THE REQUIRED TWO-THIRDS OF HIS NORMAL EARNINGS WHILE HE WAS UNABLE TO WORK.

MR. LIN ADDED: +THE LAW PROVIDES THAT THE EMPLOYER AND HIS EMPLOYEE SHOULD ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT AS TO THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION TO BE PAID TO THE WORKMAN. ONCE THE AGREEMENT IS MADE, IT SHOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE COMMISSIONER OF LABOUR FOR APPROVAL.

+I AM SORRY TO SAY THAT MANY EMPLOYERS HAVE NOT BEEN PROMPT IN DRAWING UP AGREEMENTS. THIS HAS RESULTED IN SERIOUS DELAYS AND SOMETIMES HARDSHIP TO THE INJURED PERSONS CONCERNED.+

HE POINTED OUT THAT IN THE FINAL PAYING OUT OF COMPENSATION, EMPLOYERS TENDED TO WAIT FOR INSURANCE COMPANIES TO COMPENSATE THEM BEFORE THEY WOULD PAY THE INJURED WORKER.

MR. LIN WARNED THAT IF THE PRESENT SITUATION PERSISTED OR DETERIORATED, WAYS AND MEANS WOULD NEED TO BE DEVISED TO REMEDY THE SITUATION.

+

QUARANTINE RESTRICTIONS

******

QUARANTINE RESTRICTIONS HAVE BEEN IMPOSED AGAINST ARRIVALS FROM DELHI, INDIA ON ACCOUNT OF CHOLERA, THE PORT HEALTH AUTHORITY ANNOUNCED TODAY.

AT THE SAME TIME, QUARANTINE RESTRICTIONS IMPOSED EARLIER ON ARRIVALS FROM BOMBAY IN INDIA BECAUSE OF AN OUTBREAK OF CHOLERA HAVE BEEN REMOVED.

12 ....