XN000022-1985-12-04 — Page 32

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1985

+ IT IS WITH THIS COMMON OBJECTIVE THAT I URGE THE GOVERNMENT TO GIVE THE PROPOSALS ITS SYMPATHETIC CONSIDERATION, HE SAID.

+

WELCOMING MR HO'S SUPPORT, MR HENDERSON SAID THE FUND BOARD, AMONG ITS OTHER FUNCTIONS, KEPT A CLOSE WATCH ON TRENDS IN ITS INCOME AND EXPENDITURE.

+ I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT IT WILL RECOMMEND TO THE GOVERNMENT A FURTHER REDUCTION IN THE RATE OF LEVY IF THIS SEEMS DESIRABLE,+ HE SAID.

WHILE SYMPATHISING WITH MR HO'S MOTIVES, MR HENDERSON SAID HE WOULD BE RELUCTANT TO CONSIDER AN EXPANSION OF THE FUNCTIONS OF THE FUND BOARD.

+EDUCATION, PUBLICITY AND RESEARCH IN CONNECTION WITH OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES ARE DESIRABLE ACTIVITIES, BUT THEY SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN IN A CO-ORDINATED MANNER WITH OTHER INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH MATTERS IN SUCH MANNERS AS RESOURCES AND PRIORITIES ALLOW.

+TO USE PART OF THE LEVY ON THE CONSTRUCTION AND QUARRY INDUSTRIES FOR THESE PURPOSES WOULD ENTAIL TREATING THIS PARTICULAR ASPECT OF EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ON A DIFFERENT BASIS FROM THOSE AREAS COVERED BY THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE AND WOULD REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT DEPARTURE FROM THE PRINCIPLES ON WHICH EMPLOYERS IN THE QUARRY AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES WERE CONSULTED BEFORE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PNEUMOCON IOS IS COMPENSATION SCHEME IN ITS PRESENT FORM IN 1980, + MR HENDERSON SAID.

HE SAID THE REASONS WHY COMPENSATION FOR PNEUMOCONIOS IS WAS NOT DEALT WITH UNDER THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE WERE FIRSTLY, THAT THE DISEASE WAS SPECIFIC TO THE QUARRY AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRIES AND SECONDLY, THAT IT COULD TAKE MANY YEARS TO BECOME APPARENT AND IT WAS THEREFORE DIFFICULT

IF NOT IMPOSSIBLE, FOR LIABILITY FOR THE PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION TO BE ATTACHED TO ANY PARTICULAR EMPLOYER.

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