XN000022-1986-04-09 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 1986

SAID THE FIRST STAGE WOULD TAKE EFFECT FROM FRIDAY

(AFRI 11). THIS STAGE COVERED THE FORMATION OF THE BUILDINGS AND LAND DEPARTMENT. THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT AND THE TEARITORY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT. AS A RESULT OF THIS, THE BUILDING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WOULD CEASE TO EXIST.

WR CHAN CONTINUED: +THE SECOND STAGE, WHICH IT IS PROPOSED SHOULD COME INTO EFFECT WITHIN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS, INVOLVES THE FORMATION OF A HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT AND THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT INTO A CIVIL ENGINEERING SERVICES DEPARTMENT.

+TO ENABLE THE NEW DIRECTORS OF THE BUILDINGS AND LANDS DEPARTMENT AND THE ARCHITECTURAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO ASSUME THEIR ROLES WITH EFFECT FROM APRIL 11, CERTAIN STATUTORY POWERS NEED TO BE TRANSFERRED TO THEM.+

FLEXIBILITY SOUGHT FOR COMPENSATION PAYMENT *****

A BILL SEEKING TO PROVIDE GREATER FLEXIBILITY FOR THE PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION TO THE DEPENDANTS OF A PNEUMOCONIOSIS VICTIM WHO DIED FROM A CAUSE OTHER THAN PNEUMOCONIOSIS, WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS (COMPENSATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON NE IL HENDERSON, SAID REQUIREMENT UNDER THE PRESENT ORDINANCE WAS +UNNECESSARILY STRICT+.

WHILE THE EXISTING ORDINANCE REQUIRED THAT A MEDICAL BOARD CERTIFICATE BE ISSUED BEFORE COMPENSATION COULD BE PAID, WHAT WAS REALLY NEEDED WAS SIMPLE PROOF THAT THE DEPENDANTS WERE CLAIMING COMPENSATION ON BEHALF OF A PNEUMOCONIOSIS SUFFERER WHOSE MEDICAL CONDITION PRIOR TO DEATH WOULD HAVE JUSTIFIED ISSUE BY THE MEDICAL BOARD OF A CERTIFICATE.

+ACCORDINGLY, IT IS PROPOSED TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE TO PERMIT THE DEPENDANTS OF A PNEUMOCONIOSIS VICTIM WHO DIES FROM A CAUSE OTHER THAN PNEUMOCONIOSIS TO CLAIM COMPENSATION ON HIS BEHALF WHETHER OR NOT HE HAD SUBMITTED HIMSELF TO THE MEDICAL BOARD FOR EXAMINATION BEFORE HIS DEATH, AND WHETHER OR NOT A CERTIFICATE HAD BEEN ISSUED BY THE BOARD BEFORE HIS DEATH, HE SAID.

/COMPENSATION