XN000022-1990-05-16 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16,

MAY 16, 1990

9

MEASURE WILL PROVIDE HELP FOR INJURED EMPLOYEES

LEVIES

WHO

FOR

THE PROVISIONS OF THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION INSURANCE BILL 1990 WILL GO A LONG WAY IN PROTECTING UNFORTUNATE EMPLOYEES WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN DEPRIVED OF THEIR RIGHT TO COMPENSATION INJURIES SUSTAINED AT WORK, THE HON NGAI SHIU-KIT TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

STUDY THE MR NGAI, CONVENER OF A LEGCO AD HOC GROUP FORMED TO

THE BILL, WAS SPEAKING IN

RESUMED SECOND READING DEBATE ON THE

MEASURE.

THE MAIN CONCERN OF THE GROUP HAD BEEN THE HIGH COST OF SETTING UP THE SECRETARIAT OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD, WHICH WAS ESTIMATED AT $650,000 PER ANNUM, HE SAID.

THE

HE SAID MEMBERS OF THE GROUP SUGGESTED THAT AS

THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL ALREADY HAD A SECRETARIAT,

SHOULD BE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION INSURANCE LEVIES MANAGEMENT ASKED TO CONSIDER MAKING USE OF IT FOR RECEIPT AND DISTRIBUTION OF THE LEVIES SO AS TO MINIMISE THE ADMINISTRATIVE COST.

DISCUSSION WAS NOW BEING HELD WITH THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY HEALTH COUNCIL TO ENSURE THAT THE LEVY SCHEME WOULD BE CARRIED OUT A COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER, HE SAID.

AND IN

INSURANCE

THE

THE GROUP ALSO FELT THAT THE

INDUSTRY WAS A VERY COMPETITIVE BUSINESS, AND SECRECY SHOULD BE MAINTAINED REGARDING INFORMATION IT GAVE TO THE BOARD IN THE COURSE OF COLLECTING THE ON THE BOARD'S BEHALF, MR NGAI SAID.

LEVY

AND HE SAID THE GROUP HAD SUGGESTED,

THE ADMINISTRATION HAD THE BILL TO THE EFFECT AGREED, TO INTRODUCE AN AMENDMENT TO

THAT SECRET WOULD EMPLOYEES OF THE BOARD WHO DID NOT KEEP THE INFORMATION COMMIT A CRIMINAL OFFENCE.

WINDING UP THE DEBATE, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND

THE ADMINISTRATION WOULD MANPOWER, THE HON K.Y. YEUNG, SAID

ENSURE THAT THE LEVY IMPOSED ON EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION INSURANCE PREMIA COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED IN THE MOST COST-EFFECTIVE MANNER.

WAS

DEGREE

HE SAID THE COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION WOULD INVOLVE A OF CO-OPERATION BETWEEN THE MANAGEMENT BOARD AND THE OCCUPATIONAL

COUNCIL, THE DETAILS SAFETY AND HEALTH

OF WHICH WERE NOW BEING EXAMINED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

"I AGREE WITH THE AD HOC GROUP THAT THE BILL SHOULD BE AMENDED ΤΟ REQUIRE EMPLOYEES OF THE MANAGEMENT

FROM BOARD TO REFRAIN

IN DISCLOSING ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED BY INSURANCE COMPANIES, EXCEPT THE DISCHARGE OF THEIR DUTIES.

Fr

"THIS WILL PROTECT BUSINESS INFORMATION AGAINST UNAUTHORISED DISCLOSURE, HE SAID.

/MR YEUNG