XN000022-1978-01-11 — Page 4

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1978

+AT THE MOMENT, HOWEVER, THE CORPORATION CONSIDERS ITS MAIN TASK IS THE FORMATION OF THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF LAND AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE UNTIL A SUFFICIENTLY LARGE AREA OF FORMED AND SERVICED LAND IS AVAILABLE, IT IS NOT REASONABLY POSSIBLE TO ASSESS OR PROVE DEMAND ACCURATELY.

+THE AVAILABILITY OF SUCH LAND WILL IN ITSELF STIMULATE DEMAND AND PROVE A POSITIVE ATTRACTION TO THE DESIRED TYPES OF INDUSTRY, HE ADDED.

WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1978

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THE MAJORITY OF HONG KONG EMPLOYEES ARE NOW ENTITLED TO COMPENSATION BENEFITS IF INJURED AT WORK UNDER THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1978 PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS (WEDNESDAY) AFTERNOON.

THE LAW RAISES THE WAGE CEILING IN THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE TO COVER THOSE NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES EARNING UP TO $5,000 A MONTH.

IT ALSO HAS THE EFFECT OF DISCOURAGING EMPLOYERS FROM DELAYING COMPENSATION PAYMENT TO INJURED WORKERS AND EXTENDS THE TIME LIMIT IN WHICH WORKERS CAN APPLY FOR COMPENSATION FROM 12 TO 24 MONTHS FROM THE DATE OF THE ACCIDENT.

IT ALSO AMENDS THE EXISTING LAW SO THAT ASSESSMENT OF CERTAIN INJURIES CAUSING PARTIAL PERMANENT INCAPACITIES SHOULD BE MADE BY REFERENCE TO THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE WHICH LISTS OUT THE PERCENTAGE OF LOSS OF EARNING POWER OF THE INJURED WORKER.

FORMERLY, THE LAW COVERED ONLY MANUAL WORKERS IRRESPECTIVE OF THE IR MONTHLY EARNINGS AND THOSE NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES EARNING NOT MORE THAN $2,000 A MONTH.

SPEAKING AT THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE SECOND READING OF THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1977 THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. PETER WILLIAMS, SAID WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION WAS AN AREA THAT NEEDED CONSTANT REVIEW AND

IMPROVEMENT,

HE SAID A WORKING PARTY WAS ABOUT TO START A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE OF WHICH SEVERAL AREAS REQUIRED EXAMINATION AND IMPROVEMENT.

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THREE UNOFFICIALS THE HON. WONG LAM, THE HON, LEUNG TAT-SHING, AND REV. THE HON. PATRICK MCGOVERN SPOKE ÎN SUPPORT OF THE BILL

IN THE DEBATE.

MR. WONG POINTED OUT THAT IT IS REASONABLE TO EXTEND THE INCOME CEILING OF NON-MANUAL WORKERS FROM $2,000 TO $5,000, FOR THEY ARE ALL EMPLOYEES WHETHER MANUAL OR NON-MANUAL.

/BOTH MR. LEUNG AND