XN000022-1986-04-23 — Page 21

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WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1936

FAIRNESS REQUIRED IN IMPOSING LEVIES

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THE CONSTRUCTION AND QUARRY INDUSTRIES SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO CONTRIBUTE BY WAY OF LEVY SUBSTANTIALLY MORE THAN IS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THAT ALL PNEUMOCONIOSIS VICTIMS RECEIVE THE APPROPRIATE COMPENSATION, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON NEIL HENDERSON, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

COMMENTING ON A PROPOSAL BY DR THE HON CHIU HIN-KWONG, MR HENDERSON SAID DIVERSION OF A PROPORTION OF LEVY INCOME OUT OF THE COMPENSATION FUND INTO EDUCATION AND PUBLICITY WORK AGAINST THE DISEASE WOULD, IN EFFECT, BE REQUIRING ONE SECTOR OF INDUSTRY TO FINANCE ACTIVITIES WHICH WERE ELSEWHERE FUNDED OUT OF GENERAL REVENUE, AND MIGHT BE CONSIDERED UNFAIR EY THE INDUSTRIES CONCERNED.

HE SAID THE PRINCIPLES FOR COMPENSATION OF PNEUMOCON IOS IS VICTIMS SHOULD ACCORD WITH THOSE ADOPTED GENERALLY FOR EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION.

UNDER THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE, AN EMPLOYER WAS REQUIRED TO PAY ONLY A SPECIFIED SUM OR A DETERMINED PERCENTAGE OF THAT SUM BY WAY OF COMPENSATION.

HOWEVER, MR HENDERSON SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WAS PREPARED TO CONSULT THE CONSTRUCTION AND QUARRY INDUSTRIES ON THE PROPOSAL TO MAKE MINOR AMENDMENTS TO THE ORDINANCE, SO THAT PREVENTIVE EDUCATION COULD BE FINANCED OUT OF THE LEVY ON THESE INDUSTRIES.

+ IT IS POSSIBLE THAT PREVENTION NOW MIGHT RESULT IN FEWER COMPENSATION CASES, AND HENCE A LOWER RATE OF LEVY, HE ADDED.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES AGAINST PNEUMOCONIOSIS STRESSED

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THE IMPORTANCE OF PREVENTIVE MEASURES AGAINST PNEUMOCONIOSIS WAS UNDERLINED TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY DR THE HON CHIU HIN-KWONG WHO SUGGESTED THAT THE INTEREST GENERATED FROM THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION FUND BE USED FOR EDUCATION ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY.

HE WAS SPEAKING DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

DR CHIU SAID THE PROPOSED PROVISION ENABLING DEPENDANTS OF A PNEUMOCONIOSIS VICTIM WHO DIED FROM A CAUSE OTHER THAN PNEUMOCONIOSIS TO CLAIM COMPENSATION ON HIS BEHALF EVEN WITHOUT A CERTIFICATE ISSUED BY THE MEDICAL BOARD BEFORE HIS DEATH DID SIGNIFY A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF IMPROVEMENT.

/HOWEVER, DR