XN000022-1986-07-24 — Page 10

THURSDAY, JULY 24, 1986

9

FIRST ASBESTOSIS VICTIM COMPENSATED

*****

A 69-YEAR-OLD WORKER WHO WAS SUFFERING FROM ASBESTOSIS HAS BEEN GRANTED 383 000 FROM THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION FUND.

HE IS THE FIRST ASBESTOSIS VICTIM TO RECEIVE COMPENSATION FROM THE FUND SINCE IT BEGAN OPERATION IN 1981, A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

THE WORKER RETIRED FOUR YEARS AGO AFTER HAVING SERVED IN THE SHIPBUILDING AND REPAIRING INDUSTRY FOR ABOUT 30 YEARS.

HE WAS CERTIFIED BY THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS MEDICAL BOARD IN MAY THIS YEAR TO HAVE SUFFERED FROM ASBESTOSIS WHICH IS A DISEASE OF PROGRESSIVE FIBROSIS OF THE LUNGS, WITH INCREASING RESPIRATORY DISABILITY.

+UNDER THE PNEUMOCONIOSIS (COMPENSATION) ORDINANCE, ANY PERSON DIAGNOSED TO BE SUFFERING FROM PNEUMOCONIOSIS INCLUDING SILICOSIS AND ASBESTOSIS, ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 1981 WOULD BE QUALIFIED FOR COMPENSATION, SUBJECT TO A RESIDENCE QUALIFICATION OF FIVE YEARS, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION FOR PERMANENT TOTAL INCAPACITY IS $341 000 AND THAT FOR DEATH IS $299 000.+

SO FAR $78 MILLION HAS BEEN PAID OUT TO 1 407 SILICOTIC PERSONS OR THEIR DEPENDANTS.

THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED THAT SILICOSIS AND ASBESTOSIS ARE THE ONLY TWO PNEUMOCONIOTIC DISEASES OF KNOWN CONCERN IN HONG KONG AND ARE COVERED UNDER THE ORDINANCE.

SILICOSIS IS MAINLY FOUND IN WORKERS IN QUARRIES, MINING, TUNNELLING, CONSTRUCTION AND MASONRY WORK, WHILE ASBESTOSIS IS USUALLY FOUND IN WORKERS IN AN INDUSTRY OR PROCESS IN WHICH ASBESTOS IS USED FOR INSULATION OR FIREPROOFING PURPOSES.

HE URGED WORKERS WHO SUSPECTED THEMSELVES TO BE SUFFERING FROM THE DISEASE TO APPROACH THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION UNIT FOR ASSISTANCE.

ENQUIRIES CONCERNING THE COMPENSATION SCHEME SHOULD BE MADE TO THE UNIT ON THE FOURTH FLOOR OF CANTON ROAD GOVERNMENT OFFICES OR AT TELEPHONES 3-687668 AND 3-7213744.

о

/10

Page 10Page 11