XN000022-1988-07-20 — Page 39

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1988

INSURANCE INDUSTRY WANTS PLEDGE ON LEVY

THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD GIVE A FIRM ASSURANCE THAT THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY WILL NOT BE REQUIRED TO COLLECT FUNDS FOR STATUTORY BODIES OTHER THAN THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL, THE HON HILTON CHEONG-LEEN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR CHEONG-LEEN WAS SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL BILL 1988.

HE SAID UNDER THE BILL THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTING THE REQUIRED LEVY ON INSURANCE PREMIUM ΤΟ BE USED FOR FINANCING THE ACTIVITIES OF THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL.

HOWEVER, HE SAID, THIE INSURANCE COUNCIL OF HONG KONG HAD OBJECTED IN PRINCIPLE TO ANY LEVY ON INSURANCE PREMIUM BEING USED FOR FINANCING STATUTORY BODIES.

THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY WAS CONCERNED THAT ONCE A PRECEDENT

WAS SET, THE INDUSTRY COULD BE REQUIRED TO COLLECT FUNDS FOR OTHER BODIES FOR PURPOSES SUCH AS TRAFFIC SAFETY, FIRE OR CRIME PREVENTION, HE SAID.

THEREFORE, THE INDUSTRY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A FIRM ASSURANCE FROM THE 'GOVERNMENT THAT THE ADOPTION OF THE BILL WOULD NOT BE THE THIN EDGE OF THE WEDGE AND THAT LATER ON THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT WANT THE INDUSTRY TO COLLECT OTHER LEVIES FOR OTHER BODIES, HE SAID.

0

EXTENSION WOULD DILUTE FOUNDATION'S RESOURCES

AN EXTENSION OF THE SCOPE OF THE QUEEN ELIZABETH FOUNDATION FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED TO COVER OTHER DISABILITY GROUPS WOULD MEAN SCATTERING AND DILUTING THE LIMITED RESOURCES OF THE FOUNDATION, THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON DOMINIC WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY)..

WINDING UP DEBATE ON THE QUEEN ELIZABETH FOUNDATION FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED BILL 1988, MR WONG SAID SUCH A COURSE WOULD PROBABLY ACHIEVE MUCH LESS THAN IF THE FOUNDATION CONCENTRATED

ON A PARTICULAR DISABILITY.

HE NOTED THAT THERE WERE PEOPLE IN HONG KONG. WHICH

THE

ABOUT 110,000 MENTALLY HANDICAPPED WAS

LARGEST GROUP AMONG ALL

DISABILITIES.

/"DESPITE THE