XN000022-1993-01-13 — Page 17

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13, 1993

"THE GOVERNMENT WILL ENCOURAGE THE CORPORATION ΤΟ LIAISE CLOSELY WITH SIMILAR UNDERTAKINGS SET UP BY THF OTHER LOCAL TERTIARY

INSTITUTIONS."

MADE AVAILABLE BY

THE RESEARCH GRANTS COUNCIL, WHICH APPROVES AWARDS FROM FUNDS THE GOVERNMENT FOR RESEARCH UNDERTAKEN BY THE INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, ALSO ENCOURAGES GREATER COLLABORATION BETWEEN TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS AND INDUSTRY, HE ADDED.

COMPENSATION FOR INJURIES IN EXTRA-CURRICULAR EVENTS

SCHOOL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES ARE LIABLE AT COMMON LAW FOR ANY PERSONAL INJURIES SUSTAINED BY TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND OTHER PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ORGANISED BY THEIR SCHOOLS IF THEY WERE FOUND TO HAVE BEEN NEGLIGENT.

AND IN THE CASE OF GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS, THE GOVERNMENT IS RESPONSIBLE.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON TIK CHI-YUEN IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR CHAN SAID AS EMPLOYERS, BOTH THE SCHOOL MANAGEMENT COMMITTEES AND THE GOVERNMENT ARE LIABLE TO PAY COMPENSATION UNDER THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE TO EMPLOYEES WHO SUFFER PERSONAL INJURIES BY ACCIDENT IN THE COURSE OF THEIR EMPLOYMENT.

THE OWNERS OR OCCUPIERS OF PREMISES IN WHICH THE EXTRA- CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES ARE CONDUCTED ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE REASONABLE STEPS ΤΟ SEE THAT ALL USERS WILL BE REASONABLY SAFE IN USING THE PREMISES UNDER THE OCCUPIERS LIABILITY ORDINANCE.

"THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT HAS ISSUED A BOOKLET TO ALL SCHOOLS TO HELP THEM ORGANISE SPORTING AND EXTRA-CURRICULAR EVENTS SAFELY, MR CHAN SAID.

"SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS ARE FURTHER REMINDED THROUGH REGULAR SCHOOL CIRCULARS OF THE NEED TO OBSERVE THESE SAFETY PRECAUTIONS."

ONE

AS REGARDS COMPENSATION, THE GOVERNMENT HAS GRANTED $208,000 TO STUDENT IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS IN CONNECTION WITH AN ACCIDENT WHICH AROSE DURING EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES. THERE WAS NO CASE INVOLVING STAFF.

IN THE CASE OF AIDED SCHOOLS, THERE WERE FOUR CASES INVOLVING COMPENSATION IN 1989/90, ONE IN 1990/91 AND THREE IN 1991/92. THE AMOUNT OF COMPENSATION PAID RANGED FROM $300 TO $28,081 IN 1989/90, $1,550 IN 1990/91, AND FROM $68 TO $39,000 IN 1991/92.

/THE EDUCATION