XN000022-1986-11-19 — Page 24

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1986

MR TAM SAID THAT THE PROMOTION OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY WAS THE JOINT RESPONSIBILITY FOR EMPLOYERS, EMPLOYEES AND THE GOVERNMENT.

+BUT OWING TO THE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES IN HONG KONG, FOR EXAMPLE, THE LARGE NUMBER OF SMALL FACTORIES AND THE UNWILLINGNESS OF FACTORY PROPRIETORS TO MAKE LONG-TERM INVESTMENT, THE IMPORTANCE OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY WOULD EASILY BE OVERLOOKED.

+THEREFORE, THE ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT IN PROMOTING INDUSTRIAL SAFETY IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT.+

HE SAID: THE PERFORMANCE OF THE ADMINISTRATION IN THIS ASPECT, HOWEVER, IS STILL FAR FROM SATISFACTORY.+

FIRST, IN THE AREA OF PUBLICITY, HE SAID HE FELT THE ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY THE ADMINISTRATION WERE NOT TARGET- ORIENTED AND WERE UNABLE TO REACH THOSE AT THE GRASSROOT LEVEL.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD CONSIDER A DIRECTIONAL ADJUSTMENT IN ITS PUBLICITY WORK ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, SO AS TO MAKE UP FOR THE INADEQUACIES IN MEETING IMMEDIATELY THE REQUIREMENTS OF WORKERS AT THE GRASSROOT LEVEL.

HE PROPOSED THAT DIRECT CONTACTS BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE WORKERS SHOULD BE REINFORCED. BESIDES, HE SAID A FULL-TIME ADVISORY AND COMPLAINTS UNIT ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY BE ESTABLISHED TO PROVIDE LONGER HOT LINE SERVICES AND FACT-TO-FACT ADVISORY SERVICE FOR EMPLOYEES.

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD ALSO ENCOURAGE VARIOUS INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES TO SET UP A FUNDAMENTAL WORKING GROUP TO MONITOR INDUSTRIAL SAFETY SO AS TO CREATE A MUTUALLY REMINDING, SUPERVISING AND MONITORING EFFECT, HE SAID.

SECONDLY, MR TAM POINTED OUT THAT THE EXISTING REGULATIONS COULD NOT COVER ALL THE INDUSTRIES.

+ THE EXISTING FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE DOES NOT COVER THOSE NON-INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS, BUT THE CASUALTY RATE OF THESE SO-CALLED NON-INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS AMOUNTED TO 36 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL, HE SAID.

+ THE AUTHORITIES SHOULD IMMEDIATELY STUDY HOW TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF EMPLOYEES OF NON-INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS AS WELL, + HE ADDED.

MR TAM ALSO CRITICISED THE GOVERNMENT FOR BEING TOO SLOW IN ITS LEGISLATION PROCESS, WHICH WAS LAGGING FAR BEHIND THE RAPID CHANGES IN HONG KONG'S INDUSTRIES.

/HE SAID THE