XN000022-1989-12-13 — Page 17

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1989

SHE ALSO CRITICISED THE GOVERNMENT FOR TRYING TO DRAG A WIDE VARIETY OF MEDICAL DISCIPLINES UNDER THE CONTROL OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS

MIGHT NOT HAVE THE TRAINING, KNOWLEDGE OR EXPERIENCE IN THE FIELDS THEY CONTROLLED.

WHO

MRS TU STRESSED THAT SHE WOULD LIKE то SEE ALL ALTERNATIVE DISCIPLINES BROUGHT INTO LINE BY REGISTRATION OF THOSE WHO HAD REQUIRED TRAINING.

THE

CUSTODIAL PENALTIES WILL ENHANCE DETERRENT EFFECT OF LAW

THE SANCTION OF CUSTODIAL PENALTIES PROPOSED UNDER THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ( AMENDMENT} BILL 1989 WILL GREATLY ENHANCE THE DETERRENT EFFECT OF THE LAW, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE BUSINESSES WHICH HAVE COME TO REGARD THE PAYMENT OF FINES AS A PART OF THEIR OVERHEADS, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON K.Y. YEUNG, SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY},

SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED SECOND READING DEBATE ON THE BILL, MR YEUNG SAID THESE MEASURES, DRACONIAN THOUGH THEY MIGHT AT FIRST SIGHT, WERE NECESSARY WHEN CONSIDERED AGAINST RECORD OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS IN CERTAIN INDUSTRIES.

APPEAR то BE THE APPALLING

HE POINTED OUT THAT IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ANNUAL ACCIDENT RATE HAD ALMOST DOUBLED, FROM ONR OUT OF EVERY FIVE WORKERS IN 1979 TO NEARLY TWO OUT OF EVERY FIVE LAST YEAR.

"TO GIVE A FURTHER EXAMPLE OF THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE PROBLEM. NO FEWER THAN 459 WORKERS WERE INJURED DURING THE LAST YEAR OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE HONG KONG CONVENTION AND EXHIBITION CENTRE. OF THIS NUMBER, TWO DIED AND 90 WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED, OF WHOM 36 WERE PERMANENTLY DISABLED.

"IT IS AGAINST A RECORD SUCH AS THIS THAT ONE WONDERS AT WHAT COST IN TERMS OF HUMAN SUFFERING WE ARE ACHIEVING PROGRESS, MR YEUNG SAID.

HE STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS AWARK OF THE CONCERN EXPRESSED BY MEMBERS AND OTHERS OUTSIDE THE COUNCIL THAT THE LAN MUST BE FAIR AND THAT NO ONE WHO BORE NO BLAME OR RESPONSIBILITY SHOULD BE SENT TO GOAL.

"I CAN ASSURE MEMBERS THAT. AS WITH OTHER OFFENCES. NO PROSECUTION UNDER THE ORDINANCE WILL BE TAKEN LIGHTLY, HE ADDED.

MR YEUNG POINTED OUT THAT THE AMENDMENTS TO BE MOVED AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE WOULD. MOREOVER, ENSURE THAT ONLY THOSE PROPRIETORS WHO HAD THE MANAGEMENT OR CONTROL OF THE WORK PLACE, AND THOSE WHO COMMITTED AN OFFENCE WITHOUT A REASONABLE EXCUSE. WOULD BE LIABLE ΤΟ PROSECUTION LEADING TO A CUSTODIAL SENTENCE.

/HE SAID