XN000022-1974-12-18 — Page 22

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1974

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CODE OF AID FOR SPECIAL SCHOOLS

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THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, THE HON. KENNETH TOPLEY, TODAY TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THAT WORK ON THE NEW PROPOSED CODE OF AID FOR SPECIAL SCHOOLS WAS PROCEEDING WITH ALL POSSIBLE SPEED.

HE WARNED, HOWEVER, THAT IT WAS LIKELY TO BE SOME TIME BEFORE THE DRAFT CODE COULD BE FINALISED AND SUBMITTED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR APPROVAL.

IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, HE SAID HE COULD NOT STATE A PROVISIONAL DATE FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CODE.

HE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. MRS. JOYCE SYMONS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

REFERRING TO ANOTHER QUESTION BY MRS. SYMONS, MR. TOPLEY INDICATED THAT HE COULD NOT GIVE ANY +OUTRIGHT ASSURANCE+ AT THIS STAGE AS TO WHETHER THE NEW CODE SHOULD BE INTRODUCED WITH RETROSPECTIVE EFFECT.

+BUT THE QUESTION OF THE EQUITABILITY OF BACKDATING PAY SCALES TO APRIL 1972 WILL BE MOST CAREFULLY CONSIDERED,+ HE SAID.

SPECIAL COMPENSATION SCHEME

FOR WORKMEN SUFFERING FROM SILICOSIS

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THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. IAN PRICE, SAID TODAY THAT THE CO-OPERATION OF THE ACCIDENT INSURANCE ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG WAS ESSENTIAL IF THE GOVERNMENT WAS TO PROVIDE FOR COMPULSORY WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION INSURANCE FOR SILICOSIS.

HE NOTED THAT ANY SCHEME DEALING WITH COMPENSATION IN RESPECT OF THIS DISEASE - A PROGRESSIVE AND INCURABLE LUNG DISEASE CAUSED BY PROLONGED EXPOSURE TO FREE SILICA DUST - WOULD BE COMPLICATED BY THE DIFFICULTY OF DETERMINING PROPORTIONATE LIABILITY WHERE THE WORKER HAD BEEN EMPLOYED BY A NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES DURING THE PERIOD OF EXPOSURE.

NORMAL WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION, HE ADDED, WOULD BE INAPPROPRIATE FOR PROVIDING COMPENSATION FOR SILICOTICS.

MR. PRICE WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. JAMES WU WHO HAD ASKED WHEN SILICOSIS WOULD BE INCLUDED AS AN INDUSTRIAL DISEASE UNDER THE WORKMENS COMPENSATION ORDINANCE.

THE GOVERNOR, MR. PRICE POINTED OUT, HAD STATED IN OCTOBER THAT LEGISLATION FOR SPECIAL COMPENSATION SCHEME FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM SILICOSIS WOULD BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL DURING THE CURRENT SESSION.

+THIS REMAINS THE POSITION, AND I AM UNABLE TO BE MORE PRECISE, BECAUSE OF POINTS YET TO BE RESOLVED WITH THE ACCIDENT INSURANCE ASSOCIATION OF HONG KONG,+ HE ADDED.

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