XN000022-1983-03-09 — Page 6

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דעי

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 1983

+GIVEN THE TIME LAPSE BETWEEN THE DATE OF INJURY AND THE DATE ON WHICH FINAL ASSESSMENTS ON INCAPACITY ARE MADE, I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE EQUITABLE TO ADOPT THE MAXIMUM APPLICABLE TO THE LATTER DATE IN THE CALCULATIONS,+ DR FANG SAID.

THANKING DR FANG FOR SUPPORTING THE MOTION, MR HENDERSON LATER POINTED OUT THAT CHANGES IN THE NOMINAL WAGE LEVELS DID REFLECT THE RATE OF INFLATION AMONG OTHER FACTORS. THE COMPENSATION ITSELF PAYABLE UNDER THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE WAS WAGE- RELATED SO THAT THE NOMINAL WAGE INDEX WAS THE LOGICAL GUIDE. FURTHER IT WOULD BE DETRIMENTAL TO WORKERS TO RELATE THE FIGURES TO THE COST OF LIVING INDEX IN TIMES WHEN REAL WAGES RISE.

MR MENDERSON SAID HE TOOK DR FANG'S POINT ABOUT CASES WHERE PAYMENT COULD NOT BE MADE UNTIL A LONG PERIOD HAD ELAPSED.

+1 WILL BE INVESTIGATING WHETHER IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE BUT TO RELATE THE COMPENSATION TO THE DATE OF AWARD RATHER THAN THE DATE OF ACCIDENT ITSELF WOULD SEEM TO PRESENT PROBLEM IN AN INSURANCE-BASED SCHEME SUCH AS OURS, HE NOTED.

WELFARE OF CHILDREN SAFEGUARDED

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THE UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES OF THE MATRIMONIAL CAUSES (AMENDMENT) BILL WHICH AIMS TO SAFEGUARD THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN CAUGHT UP IN MATRIMONIAL PROCEEDINGS WERE DESCRIBED AS WELL - INTENDED+ BY. UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, DR THE HON HARRY FANG, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL DURING ITS SECOND READING, DR FANG SAID IT HAD BEEN STUDIED CAREFULLY BY THE SOCIAL SERVICES WORKING GROUP OF UNOFFICIALS, ON WHICH HE SERVES AS CONVENER,

HE NOTED THAT EMPHASIS HAD BEEN PLACED ON WHETHER THE WISHES OF THE CHILD CONCERNED WOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION BY THE COURT IN DECIDING TO ISSUE A CARE ORDER, AND WHETHER THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE, ON ACCEPTING THE CHILD INTO HIS CARE, HAD THE NECESSARY RESOURCES TO PROVIDE A SATISFACTORY LEVEL OF CARE.

+WE WERE SATISFIED THAT THE PROVISIONS IN THE BILL AND THE PLANS WHICH THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE HAD IN HAND WERE ADEQUATE.+

ON THE PROPOSED LEVEL OF FINE FOR FAILURE TO NOTIFY THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE OF ANY CHANGE OF ADDRESS, DR FANG SAID HIS GROUP HAD BEEN ASSURED THAT ACCEPTANCE OF THE PROPOSAL WOULD NOT LEAD AUTOMATICALLY TO A REVISION OF PENALTY PROVISIONS FOR SIMILAR OFFENCES .N OTHER LEGISLATIONS.

/ACCORDING TO