XN000022-1985-06-28 — Page 15

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FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1985

THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR EACH OFFENCE IS A FINE OF $50 000.

THE BILL ALSO SEEKS TO CHANGE THE TITLE OF THE ORDINANCE FROM +CONTRACTS FOR OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE+ TO +CONTRACTS FOR EMPLOYMENT OUTSIDE HONG KONG ORDINANCE+ SO AS TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT THE ORDINANCE APPLIES TO A CONTRACT FOR EMPLOYMENT AS A MANUAL WORKER ANYWHERE OUTSIDE HONG KONG, WHETHER OR NOT +OVERSEAS+.

OTHER PROPOSALS INCLUDE AN AMENDMENT TO THE SECTION OF THE ORDINANCE WHICH REFERS TO THE QUALIFICATION OF REPATRIATION OF WORKER TO ENSURE THAT A WORKER IS ENTITLED TO REPATRIATION IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES ON THE TERMINATION OF A CONTRACT TO WHICH THE ORDINANCE APPLIES.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD HAS BEEN CONSULTED ON THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT AND HAS AGREED TO THEM.

THE BILL WILL BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR THE FIRST AND SECOND READING ON JULY 10 AND IS EXPECTED TO RECEIVE ITS THIRD READING ON JULY 24.

BILL TO CLARIFY EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION

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THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1985, WHICH SEEKS TO CLARIFY THE INTENTION OF THE PRINCIPAL ORDINANCE IN ASSESSING COMPENSATION CASES, WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GOVERNMENT GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID UNDER THE PRESENT SYSTEM COMPENSATION FOR SCHEDULED INJURIES IS BASED ON THE DEGREE OF LOSS OF EARNING CAPACITY SPECIFIED IN THE FIRST SCHEDULE OF THE ORDINANCE.

FOR UNSCHEDULED INJURIES, THE DEGREE OF LOSS OF EARNING CAPACITY IS ASSESSED BY AN APPOINTED EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION BOARD, HE SAID.

THE SYSTEM IS APPLICABLE WHETHER THE INJURED WORKER COULD FIND A JOB AT A SALARY EQUIVALENT TO WHAT HE WAS EARNING BEFORE THE INJURY, WHICH IMPLIES THAT HE MAY LOSE HIS ENTITLED COMPENSATION IF HE COULD.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE PURPOSE OF THE BILL IS TO CLARIFY THAT LOSS OF EARNING CAPACITY INCLUDES BOTH PRESENT AND FUTURE REDUCTION OF EARNING CAPACITY OF THE WORKER AT THE TIME OF HIS INJURY. SO THAT LOSS OF POTENTIAL AS WELL AS ACTUAL EARNING CAPACITY CAN BE COVERED.

/THE BILL