XN000022-1986-03-21 — Page 6

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FRIDAY, MARCH 21, 1986

+HAVING REGARD TO THE RAPID EXPANSION OF YOUTH SERVICES

AND ACTIVITIES IN RECENT YEARS AND THE SIZE OF THE YOUTH POPULATION AND ITS CONTRIBUTORY ROLE IN THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG, THE GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO SET UP IN THE NEAR FUTURE, A CENTRAL COMMITTEE ON YOUTH, HE SAID.

THE COMMITTEE WOULD COLLATE INFORMATION AND CONDUCT RESEARCH ON THE NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN HONG KONG, AND PROMOTE YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND WIDEN THE CHANNELS OF YOUTH PARTICIPATION, MR LIAO SAID.

MR LIAO REITERATED THAT TO CULTIVATE SUCCESSFULLY A GENERATION OF WELL-EDUCATED, WELL-MOTIVATED, AND CIVIC-MINDED YOUNG POEPLE, IT MUST BE A COLLECTIVE EFFORT BY ALL CONCERNED.

BILL PROVIDES FLEXIBILITY FOR COMPENSATION

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THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS (COMPENSATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986, WHICH SEEKS TO PROVIDE GREATER FLEXIBILITY FOR THE PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION TO THE DEPENDANTS OF A PNEUMOCONIOTIC WORKER WHO DIES FROM A CAUSE OTHER THAN PNEUMOCONIOSIS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE GAZETTE TODAY (FRIDAY).

A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID UNDER THE PRESENT SYSTEM, COMPENSATION WOULD BE MADE TO THE DEPENDANTS OF A DECEASED PNEUMOCONIOTIC WORKER, PROVIDED THAT A CERTIFICATE HAD BEEN ISSUED BY THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS MEDICAL BOARD BEFORE HIS DEATH.

IN CASES, HOWEVER, WHERE A WORKER DIED BEFORE AN ASSESSMENT WAS MADE BY THE MEDICAL BOARD, OR WHEN HIS DEATH OCCURRED BETWEEN THE DATE OF DIAGNOSIS OF THE DISEASE AND THE DATE OF ISSUE OF THE CERTIFICATE, THE DEPENDANTS COULD NOT RECEIVE ANY COMPENSATION.

THE BILL SEEKS TO MADE COMPENSATION PAYABLE TO THE DEPENDANTS WHETHER OR NOT THE DECEASED HAD SUBMITTED HIMSELF TO THE BOARD AND GOT A CERTIFICATE BEFORE HIS DEATH, PROVIDED THAT MEDICAL EVIDENCE WAS AVAILABLE BEFORE DEATH TO ENABLE HIS DEGREE OF INCAPACITY AS A RESULT OF PNEUMOCONIOSIS TO BE ASSESSED BY THE MEDICAL BOARD.

HOWEVER, DEPENDANTS WHO WISHED TO CLAIM COMPENSATION MUST NOTIFY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR OF THE DEATH.

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS, IF ENACTED, WOULD APPLY WHERE THE DEATH OCCURRED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 1981.

THE BILL IS EXPECTED TO BE INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL FOR FIRST AND SECOND READING ON APRIL 9.

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