XN000022-1993-05-05 — Page 39

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 1993

IN VIEW OF THE PROGRESSIVE NATURE OF THE DISEASE, MR CHAN SAID, THE BILL ENABLES A PNEUMOCONIOTIC TO ASK FOR RE-EXAMINATION EVERY TWO YEARS.

"IF HE IS FOUND TO HAVE SUFFERED ADDITIONAL INCAPACITY, THE AMOUNT OF MONTHLY PAYMENT WOULD BE INCREASED.

"THIS ALSO APPLIES TO PNEUMOCONIOTICS WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY RECEIVED COMPENSATION UNDER THE ORDINANCE, MR CHAN ADDED.

THE BILL ALSO PROVIDES FOR COMPENSATION TO BE GIVEN ΤΟ THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF A PERSON WHO DIES OF PNEUMOCONIOSIS.

FUNERAL EXPENSES WOULD BE REIMBURSED TO ANY PERSON WHO HAS INCURRED THEM FOR THE BURIAL OR CREMATION OF THE DECEASED.

OF

IN ADDITION, THE NEW COMPENSATION SCHEME PROVIDES REIMBURSEMENT EXPENSES FOR THE SUPPLY OR USE OF APPROVED MEDICAL APPLIANCES AND COMPENSATION FOR BEREAVEMENT TO THE FAMILY MEMBERS OF A PNEUMOCONIOTIC WHO HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY COMPENSATION PRIOR TO HIS DEATH.

SOME 2,000 PNEUMOCONIOTICS WHO WERE DIAGNOSED BETWEEN JANUARY 1981 AND MARCH 1993 ARE ESTIMATED TO BE ABLE TO BENEFIT UNDER THE NEW SCHEME.

TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW COMPENSATION SCHEME, MR CHAN SAID, IT WOULD BE NECESSARY то INCREASE THE RATE OF LEVY CHARGED ON THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION AND QUARRYING INDUSTRIES FROM 0.02 PER CENT TO 0.3 PER CENT IN 1993.

HE SAID: "I INTEND TO MOVE THE NECESSARY RESOLUTION COUNCIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL.

IN

THIS

RATE

"I SHOULD ALSO GIVE NOTICE THAT A FURTHER INCREASE IN THE OF LEVY TO 0.4 PER CENT OR 0.45 PER CENT MAY WELL. BE REQUIRED IN 1994, DEPENDING ON THE ACTUAL PATTERN OF INCOME AND EXPENDITURE."

THE IMPROVED COMPENSATION SCHEME ENVISAGED IN THE BILL WILL APPLY, AS THE EXISTING ORDINANCE, ONLY TO PNEUMOCONIOTICS DIAGNOSED ON OR AFTER JANUARY 1, 1981.

FOR THOSE WHO WERE DIAGNOSED BEFORE 1981 TO HAVE CONTRACTED THE DISEASE AND WHO WERE GIVEN EX-GRATIA PAYMENT ON A ONCE-AND-FOR-ALL BASIS BY THE GOVERNMENT IN 1981, HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT PROPOSED то PROVIDE FURTHER EX-GRATIA PAYMENTS TO THEM AT A RATE OF $2,200 PER MONTH FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

IT IS ALSO PROPOSED THAT AN AMOUNT NOT EXCEEDING $10,000 WOULD BE GIVEN TO ANY PERSON WHO HAS PAID FOR THE FUNERAL EXPENSES OF A PERSON WHO HAD DIED OF PNEUMOCONIOSIS.

A

TO SEEK AS POSSIBLE

SUBMISSION WILL BE MADE TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THE FUNDS REQUIRED FOR THIS PURPOSE AS SOON AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE BILL.

APPROVAL

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

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