XN000022-1974-10-16 — Page 63

Wednesday, October 16, 1974

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The promotion of industrial safety still requires

further urgent attention. Safety regulations made during the

last two years have covered the more dangerous industrial

activities including construction work, the use of lifting

appliances and lifting gear and work in confined spaces.

Further regulations will soon be introduced to oover cargo

handling at wharves, quays and godowns. Others are projected

for a variety of specialised industrial processes but the only ́

major area on which a good deal of work remains to be done

is that of guarding machinery. Of course improved industrial

safety cannot be achieved solely by the enactment of special

F

regulations. The co-operation of employers and workers is

essential and steps are being taken to encourage their involvement

through a Five Year programme of action including the extension

of safety training and increased publicity.

!

And now a word about the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance

which, like the Employment Ordinance, is kept under constant

review. Recent amendments have raised the maximum wage ceiling

for entitlement of non-manual workers under these two ordinances

from $1500 to $2000 per month. At the same time the maximum

amounts that can be claimed in workmen's compensation were

correspondingly increased by 30%. The Workmen's Compensation

Ordinance is due for a major overhaul over the next two years

but one other matter deserves mention. This is silicosis, one

of the most serious occupational diseases occurring in Hong

Kong, which has never been included in the schedule to the

/ordinance because