XN000022-1989-12-06 — Page 5

3

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1989

WHO

MR YEUNG EXPLAINED THAT THE FORMER PROVIDED FOR EMPLOYEES WERE INJURED IN THE COURSE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT TO BE COMPENSATED WHILE THE LATTER PROVIDED FOR PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION PNEUMOCONIOSIS COMPENSATION FUND BOARD TO PERSONS INCAPACITATED BY DYING AS A RESULT OF PNEUMOCONIOSIS.

THE LEVELS WERE IDENTICAL UNDER THE TWO ORDINANCES.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY SINCE 1978 HAD BEEN ΤΟ THE LEVELS OF COMPENSATION EVERY TWO YEARS, TAKING INTO MOVEMENTS AND OTHER CHANGES.

BY THE

OR

REVIEW

ACCOUNT

WAGE

EXISTING LEVELS OF COMPENSATION HAD BEEN IN FORCE JANUARY 1, 1988 AND IT WAS PROPOSED TO INTRODUCE THE REVISED WITH EFFECT FROM JANUARY 1 NEXT YEAR.

SINCE

LEVELS

THE SECRETARY NOTED THAT A REVIEW CONDUCTED RECENTLY THAT NOMINAL WAGES OVER THE PERIOD JANUARY 1988 TO NOVEMBER RISEN BY 23 PER CENT.

SHOWED

HAD

1989

OF

"ACCORDINGLY, IT IS PROPOSED TO RAISE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNTS COMPENSATION FOR DEATH FROM $345,000 TO $424,000, AND FOR PERMANENT TOTAL INCAPACITY FROM $394,000 TO $485,000.

"AT THE SAME TIME THE MINIMUM AMOUNTS WILL BE RAISED FROM $116,000 TO $143,000 AND FROM $132,000 TO $162,000 RESPECTIVELY.

"THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION FOR CONSTANT ATTENTION WILL ALSO BE RAISED FROM $158,000 TO $194,000," HE SAID.

IT WAS ALSO PROPOSED TO RAISE THE LEVELS OF OTHER FORMS OF COMPENSATION WICH WERE NOT DIRECTLY RELATED TO MOVEMENTS IN WAGES.

NOMINAL

"I

"FIRST, WE PROPOSE TO RAISE THE MINIMUM EARNINGS PER MONTH FOR THE PURPOSE OF CALCULATING COMPENSATION FROM $920 TO $1,040, MR YEUNG SAID.

THIS FIGURE WAS BASED ON THE LEVEL OF SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE FOR A SINGLE PERSON UNDER THE PUBLIC ASSISTANCE SCHEME.

THE PROPOSED INCREASE WAS IN LINE WITH A RECENT INCREASE UNDER THAT SCHEME.

SECONDLY, IT WAS PROPOSED TO RAISE THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION FROM $3,000 TO $8,000 FOR BURIAL AND MEDICAL EXPENSES WHERE THE DECEASED EMPLOYEE LEFT NO DEPENDANTS.

THIS PROPOSAL WAS BASED ON ACTUAL INCREASES IN MEDICAL AND BURIAL EXPENSES SINCE 1980.

THIRDLY, IT WAS PROPOSED TO RAISE MAXIMUM DAILY REIMBURSEMENTS OF MEDICAL EXPENSES FROM $40 FOR IN-PATIENTS AND $20 FOR OUT-PATIENTS TO $70 IN BOTH CASES.

/"THIS PROPOSAL