XN000022-1985-07-10 — Page 18

WEL.

JULY 10, 1985

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HE ALSO SAID THAT FOR INJURIES SPECIFIED IN THE FIRST SCHEDULE, THE ORDINANCE ALREADY PROVIDED THAT WHERE LOSS OF EARNING CAPACITY FROM A COMBINATION OF INJURIES AMOUNTED TO MORE THAN 100 PER CENT, THE INCAPACITY WAS DEEMED TO BE TOTAL.

+THE PRESENT BILL SEEKS TO APPLY THE SAME PRINCIPLE TO A COMBINATION OF INJURIES NOT SPECIFIED IN THE FIRST SCHEDULE, AND TO A COMBINATION OF SCHEDULED AND UNSCHEDULED INJURIES, + HE ADDED.

+ THE BILL FURTHER SEEKS TO MAKE IT CLEAR THAT PARTIAL LOSS OF A MEMBER OR ITS USE SHOULD BE ASSESSED IN PROPORTION TO THE TOTAL LOSS OF THAT MEMBER AS PROVIDED FOR IN THE FIRST SCHEDULE.+

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

'SIMPLER' SYSTEM OF FACTORY NOTIFICATION PROPOSED

*****

THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON DARWIN CHEN, TODAY SAID THE NEW NOT IF ICATION SYSTEM PROPOSED UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1985 WOULD BE SIMPLER THAN THE EXISTING SYSTEM OF REGISTRATION AND WOULD REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF PAPER WORK FOR BOTH PROPRIETORS OF WORKPLACES AND THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE OF LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

SPEAKING AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL. MR CHEN SAID THE BILL SOUGHT TO REPLACE THE EXISTING SYSTEM OF REGISTRATION OF WORKPLACES BY A NOTIFICATION SYSTEM.

+UNDER THIS PROPOSAL, THE PERSON HAVING MANAGEMENT OR CONTROL OF A NOTIFIABLE WORKPLACE IS REQUIRED TO NOTIFY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR BEFORE THE WORKPLACE BEGINS OPERATION. THE DEFINITION OF 'NOT IF IABLE WORKPLACE IS THE SAME AS THE EXISTING DEFINITION OF 'REGISTRABLE WORKPLACE',+ MR CHEN SAID.

IF THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR CONSIDERED THAT A NOTIFIABLE WORKPLACE COULD NOT BE OPERATED WITH DUE REGARD TO HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELFARE STANDARDS, HE MIGHT ISSUE A NOTICE TO PROHIBIT ITS OPERATION.

THE COMMISSIONER MIGHT CANCEL A PROHIBITION NOTICE BUT IN DOING SO MIGHT GIVE DIRECTIONS AS TO THE OPERATION OF THE WORKPLACE CONCERNED, A PROPRIETOR MIGHT APPLY TO THE COMMISSIONER TO LIFT A PROHIBITION NOTICE. HE MIGHT ALSO APPEAL TO THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL AGAINST THE COMMISSIONER'S DECISION.

THE BILL PROPOSED THAT ALL WORKPLACES WHICH HAVE BEEN REGISTERED OR PROVISIONALLY REGISTERED UNDER THE EXISTING ORDINANCE WOULD BE CONSIDERED AS HAVING BEEN NOTIFIED TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR.

/IT FURTHER