XN000022-1982-12-17 — Page 21

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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1982

THE FEDERATION, HE SAID, REALISED THAT REDUCING THE NUMBER OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS REQUIRED CO-OPERATION AMONG THE PARTIES CONCERNED. IT WAS NOT ENOUGH FOR GOVERNMENT TO LAUNCH PUBLICITY PROGRAMME AND TO ENACT LEGISLATION IT ALSO REQUIRED EFFORTS BY EMPLOYERS TO INSTALL SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND TO MONITOR ITS USAGE AS WELL AS CO-OPERATION BY EMPLOYEES IN OBSERVING SAFETY REGULATIONS. +IN OTHER WORDS, IT'S A TRIPARTITE EFFORT BY GOVERNMENT, EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES, HE NOTED.

THE ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER OF SHUI ON CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, MR M.C. LAO, SAID THAT AS A CO-SPONSOR OF THE PROGRAMME, HIS COMPANY HELD THE FIRM BELIEF, WHICH WAS ALSO SHARED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND MANY MEMBERS OF THE INDUSTRIAL COMMUNITY, THAT A HIGH STANDARD OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY WOULD HELP UPGRADE PRODUCTIVITY.

IT WAS HOPED THAT THROUGH THE PROGRAMME INDUSTRIALISTS AND WORKERS WOULD BECOME MORE AWARE OF THE NEED TO SUPPORT THE MEANINGFUL CAUSE OF, AND TO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN, UPGRADING THE STANDARDS OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY IN HONG KONG.

PENALTY FOR LATE PAYMENT PROPOSED ****

A BILL PROPOSING TO DISCOURAGE LATE PAYMENTS OF LEVY TO THE PNEUMOCON JOSIS COMPENSATION FUND, SET UP TO HELP QUARRY AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY WORKERS, IS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY.

UNDER THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, A LEVY OR SURCHARGE NOT PAID WITHIN THE PRESCRIBED PERIOD WILL LEAD TO A PENALTY OF FIVE PER CENT OF THE AMOUNT UNPAID,

IF THIS OUTSTANDING SUM IS NOT SETTLED WITHIN THREE MONTHS AFTER THE DEADLINE, THE CONTRACTOR OR QUARRY OPERATOR WILL HAVE TO PAY, IN ADDITION, A FURTHER PENALTY OF FIVE PER CENT OF THE TOTAL SUM.

THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS (COMPENSATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1982 ALSO ALLOWS THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION FUND BOARD IN CERTAIN SITUATIONS TO DISCLOSE CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION SUPPLIED TO IT.

IF THE BILL IS ENACTED, THE INTENTION IS TO INTRODUCE REGULATIONS TO ALLOW FOR SUCH DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION TO THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY, AND TO PEOPLE AUTHORISED OR EMPLOYED BY THE BOARD FOR THE PURPOSE OF CHECKING THE VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORKS.

THE AMENDMENT REGULATIONS WOULD ALSO RAISE THE EXISTING PENALTY FOR FAILURE TO REPORT THE START AND END OF CONSTRUCTION OR QUARRY WORKS. THE RECEIPT OF PAYMENTS BY CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS, AND THE MONTHLY PRODUCTION VOLUME OF QUARRY PRODUCTS.

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