XN000022-1977-02-02 — Page 12

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1977

INTRODUCTION OF COMPULSORY INSURANCE AGAINST EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY PREMATURE

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THE GOVERNMENT STILL THINKS IT IS PREMATURE TO INTRODUCE COMPULSORY INSURANCE AGAINST EMPLOYERS' LIABILITY.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. IAN PRICE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. PETER C. WONG.

MR. PRICE RECALLED THAT IN OCTOBER 1969 WHEN THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1969 WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE COUNCIL IT WAS CONSIDERED THAT THERE WAS NO NECESSITY TO IMPOSE COMPULSORY INSURANCE GENERALLY OR FOR ANY PARTICULAR EMPLOYMENT AT THAT TIME.

HOWEVER, HE SAID, PART IV OF THE ORDINANCE, WHICH HAS NOT BEEN BROUGHT INTO FORCE, WAS INCLUDED TO ENABLE COMPULSORY INSURANCE TO BE INTRODUCED IN RESPECT OF PARTICULAR EMPLOYMENTS TO BE PRESCRIBED UNDER SECTION 38, AS AND WHEN THIS BECAME NECESSARY.

THE COMMISSIONER SAID +IN SEPTEMBER 1974 THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL, AFTER CONSIDERING CERTAIN PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE, CONCLUDED THAT IT WAS PREMATURE TO INTRODUCE COMPULSORY INSURANCE.+

MR. PRICE SAID HE KEPT THE MATTER UNDER REVIEW AND HE REMA I NED OF THE OPINION THAT THERE WAS AT PRESENT NO NECESSITY TO IMPOSE COMPULSORY INSURANCE EXCEPT FOR CERTAIN APPROPRIATE EMPLOYMENTS.

+FOR INSTANCE, IF THE PROPOSED SILICOSIS AND ASBESTOS IS SCHEME IS ADOPTED IN THE FORM NOW BEING PURSUED, PART IV OF THE ORDINANCE WOULD HAVE TO BE BROUGHT INTO FORCE IN RESPECT OF THE RELEVANT EMPLOYMENTS IN DUSTY TRADES, HE ADDED.

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