XN000022-1974-11-06 — Page 5

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1974.

U.K. 'LABOUR EXPERT CRITICISES H.K. FACTORY SAFETY

STANDARDS

THE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY STANDARDS OF FAR TOO MANY FACTORIES IN HONG KONG ARE EITHER INDIFFERENT OR TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE, A BRITISH LABOUR EXPERT SAID TODAY.

THE EXPERT, MR. TONY LINEHAN, A SENIOR MEMBER OF THE U.K. FACTORY INSPECTORATE, CLAIMED THAT ONLY A FEW LOCAL FACTORIES HAD ATTAINED WORLD STANDARDS OF WORK SAFETY.

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MR. LINEHAN HAS BEEN IN HONG KONG FOR JUST OVER A YEAR AS A SPECIALIST ADVISER TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR ON FACTORY INSPECTION AND RELATED MATTERS.

ADDRESSING A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE HONG KONG EAST ROTARY CLUB, MR. LINEHAN SAID THERE WAS NO REASON THAT ALL FACTORIES SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION FOR WORKERS PROFIT FROM IT.

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+1NDUSTRY IN HONG KONG HAS A JUSTIFIABLE REPUTATION FOR THE SKILL OF ITS WORK PEOPLE, THE INGENUITY OF ITS DESIGN AND PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES, THE RESOURCEFULNESS OF ITS FACTORIES AND THE ADMIRABLE WAY IN WHICH IT ADAPTS ITSELF TO CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES, HE SAID.

+IT SHOULD NOT BE DIFFICULT TO EXERCISE THESE QUALITIES TO PROVIDE EFFECTIVE PROTECTION FOR THOSE, WHO BY THEIR DAILY WORK IN FACTORIES, CONTRIBUTE DIRECTLY TO OUR PROSPERITY.

+WHAT WE SHOULD ENSURE IS THAT THE EXAMPLE SET BY THE FEW BECOMES RAPIDLY THE NORM FOR THE REMAINDER.+

MR. LINEHAN SAID THE OBJECTIONS RAISED AGAINST PROVIDING GUARDS FOR POWER PRESSES, AS AN EXAMPLE, WERE THAT THEY WOULD SLOW PRODUCTION, JEOPARDISE PROFITABILITY AND ERODE THE EARNING CAPACITY OF THE OPERATOR.

THIS IN TURN WOULD CREATE ANTIPATHY OR DOWNRIG HOSTILITY ON THE PART OF THE PRODUCTION WORKER TOWARD THE DEVICE DESIGNED TO PROTECT HIM.

MR. LINEHAN SAID: THIS CHARGE, HOWEVER, IS TOO FREQUENTLY THE ALLEGATION OF THOSE WHO ARE DISINCLINED TO MAKE THE CHANGE.

+A PROPERLY-DESIGNED GUARD CAN NOT ONLY PROVIDE A HIGH STANDARD OF SAFETY, BUT CAN ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY.

+MOREOVER, IMPROVED PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES SUCH AS BETTER TOOL DESIGN AND AUTOMATIC FEEDING CAN CONTRIBUTE TOWARDS GREATER PROFITABILITY AND BY THEIR VERY NATURE DIMINISH MOST SIGNIFICANTLY THE RISK OF OPERATOR ACCIDENTS.+

MR. LINENAN