XN000022-1983-06-29 — Page 31

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 29, 1983

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PROTECTION FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH

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THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF INTERESTED PARTIES, ALWAYS ENDEAVOUR TO PROVIDE WORKERS AND RESIDENTS WITH ADEQUATE PROTECTION FOR SAFETY AND HEALTH.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, DR JAMES HAYES, WHEN HE OFFICIATED AT THE OPENING OF A SEMINAR ON OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH THIS (WEDNESDAY) MORNING.

THE ONE-DAY SEMINAR WAS JOINTLY ORGANISED BY THE HONG KONG OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ASSOCIATION (HKOSHA) AND A DELEGATION OF INDUSTRIAL HYGIENISTS AND SAFETY OFFICERS FROM THE PEOPLE TO PEOPLE CITIZEN AMBASSADOR IN THE UNITED STATES.

DR HAYES POINTED OUT THAT AS HONG KONG'S URBAN AREAS WERE CONSTANTLY EXPANDING AND LAND WAS SCARCE, THE LOCAL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY HAD IN MOST PLACES TO OPERATE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO RESIDENTIAL AREAS, REQUIRING IT TO PAY DUE CARE AND ATTENTION TO SAFETY AND HEALTH IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD AS WELL AS IN THE WORKPLACE.

AND THE FACT THAT 90 PER CENT OF THE LOCAL MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS HAVE LESS THAN 50 EMPLOYEES AND ABOUT 65 PER CENT LESS THAN 10. ALSO PRESENTS DIFFICULTIES FOR THE CONTROL AND MONITORING OF INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES IN THE INTERESTS OF BOTH WORKERS AND RESIDENTS.

+THE LOCAL SITUATION REQUIRES THAT THE AUTHORITIES ARE ALIVE TO PRESENT DAY AND FUTURE TRENDS ON INDUSTRIAL ISATION AND INDUSTRIAL DIVERSIFICATION, THAT THEY CONSULT WIDELY, AND THAT THEY WORK CLOSELY WITH INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATIONS AND BODIES CONCERNED WITH OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH SUCH AS THE HKOSHA, HE ADDED.

EARLIER, DR HAYES SAID THAT THE SUBJECTS OF THE SEMINAR ARE OF THE GREATEST IMPORTANCE TO ANY LABOUR ADMINISTRATION, ANY ASSOCIATION CONCERNING ITSELF WITH SAFETY AND HEALTH, ANY FIRM ENGAGED IN MANUFACTURING PROCESSES, AND TO WORKERS IN THESE INDUSTRIES, THEIR FAMILIES AND THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

HE CONGRATULATED THE HKOSHA FOR ARRANGING THE SEMINAR ON THE OCCASION OF THE CHINA VISIT BY THE DELEGATION, AND THANKED THE VISITORS FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION AFTER THEIR STRENUOUS TOUR.

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IN FACT, TODAY'S FULL DAY EVENT STEMS FROM THE HALF DAY SEMINAR ORGANISED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A VISIT FROM A SIMILAR DELEGATION FROM THE SAME ORGANISATION LAST YEAR. NO DOUBT, SUCCESS HAS ENCOURAGED TODAY'S MORE AMBITIOUS PROGRAMMES, + HE ADDED.

DR HAYES WAS INTRODUCED BY DR K.W. FUNG, CHAIRMAN OF THE HKOSHA, WHO WAS ALSO A SPEAKER IN A DISCUSSION ON THE PROFILE OF OCCUPATIONAL HYGIENE IN HONG KONG, AT WHICH THE GUEST SPEAKER WAS DR F.J. O'KELLY, OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH CONSULTANT OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

MR W.S. TANG, A DIVISIONAL INSPECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT, SPOKE ON NOISE HAZARDS IN THE LOCAL INDUSTRIES.

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