XN000022-1977-03-11 — Page 2

FRIDAY, MARCH 11, 1977

SAD STORY BEHIND SUCCESS

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BEHIND HONG KONG'S SUCCESS STORY, THERE LAY A SET OF SAD STATISTICS IN INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS SAID DR. S.Y. CHUNG, UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS AND PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES, TODAY (FRIDAY).

HE WAS OPENING A MACHINERY GUARDING EXHIBITION ORGANISED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AT KOWLOON RAIL TERMINUS, HUNG HOM.

ADDRESSING SEVERAL HUNDRED INVITED GUESTS, DR. CHUNG SAID: +DURING THE PAST 25 YEARS, HONG KONG HAS GONE THROUGH A MOST TRIUMPHANT PERIOD OF INDUSTRIALISATION AND HAS BECOME AN INTER- NATIONALLY RENOWNED INDUSTRIAL CITY.·

+HOWEVER, HE SAID, +BEHIND THIS SUCCESSFUL STORY THERE LIES A SET OF SAD STATISTICS. EVERY YEAR A RISING NUMBER OF MEN AND WOMEN ARE SUFFERING FROM INJURIES THROUGH INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS.

+QUITE A SIZABLE PROPORTION OF THESE ACCIDENTS RESULTED IN PERMANENT DISABILITY OF VARYING DEGREES AND QUITE A NUMBER OF THEM WERE EVEN FATAL,+ HE ADDED,

DR. CHUNG SAID THE TOTAL NUMBER OF REPORTED ACCIDENTS IN HONG KONG (BOTH FATAL AND NON-FATAL) ROSE ALARMINGLY FROM 27,200 IN 1971 TO 45,100 LAST YEAR. HE ESTIMATED 70 PER CENT OF THESE ACCIDENTS CAME FROM FACTORIES AND OF THEM NEARLY 40 PER CENT WERE MACHINERY ACCIDENTS.

+THIS RATE OF MACHINERY ACCIDENTS IN HONG KONG IS VERY HIGH INDEED AND IS ALMOST DOUBLE THAT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM,+ HE SAID. +AS A RESULT, THERE IS NATURALLY A GROWING CONCERN IN BOTH INDUSTRY AND GOVERNMENT OVER THIS HIGH PROPORTION OF MACHINERY ACCIDENTS.+

HE WENT ON: IN AN ATTEMPT TO MINIMISE THESE ACCIDENTS AND TO SAFE-GUARD THE HEALTH OF INDUSTRIAL WORKERS, A NEW SET OF FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS REGULATIONS FOR THE GUARDING AND OPERATION OF MACHINERY WAS ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE LAST YEAR AND WILL COME INTO EFFECT NEXT MONTH.+

DR. CHUNG SAID THAT HE HAD ALWAYS HELD THE VIEW THAT GOVERN- MENT SHOULD ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE POSITIVE AND USEFUL ASSISTANCE TO

IMPROVE WORKING CONDITIONS AND INDUSTRIAL SAFETY IN FACTORIES AND SHOULD TRY TO AVOID THE NEGATIVE AND PENAL APPROACH.

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HE WAS PARTICULARLY HAPPY TO SEE THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TAKING INITIATIVE IN MOUNTING A MACHINERY GUARDING EXHIBITION.

DR. CHUNG CALLED ON THE PUBLIC TO VISIT THE EXHIBITION WHICH RUNS FROM MARCH 11 TO 20.

/BARLIER THE .............