XN000022-1994-11-30 — Page 31

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 1994

*

10

COMPENSATION, WE

REGARDING THE DETERMINATION AND PAYMENT OF PROPOSE THAT THE COMPUTATION OF COMPENSATION FOR OCCUPATIONAL DEAFNESS SHOULD FOLLOW THE FORMULA FOR COMPENSATING PERMANENT INCAPACITY UNDER THE EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION ORDINANCE. COMPENSATION WOULD BE PAID A LUMP SUM PAYMENT CALCULATED ACCORDING ΤΟ AN APPLICANT'S AGE, EARNINGS AND DEGREE OF PERMANENT INCAPACITY. UNDER THE SCHEME, TOTAL DEAFNESS, AS AN OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE, WOULD BE EQUATED TO 60% PHYSICAL INCAPACITY.

AS TO THE FUNDING OF THE SCHEME, WE PROPOSE THAT THE SCHEME SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED ON THE BASIS OF COLLECTIVE LIABILITY OF EMPLOYERS. THE REASON IS THAT OCCUPATIONAL DEAFNESS DEVELOPS OVER A PERIOD OF SEVERAL YEARS AND IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO TRACK DOWN ALL PREVIOUS EMPLOYERS FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING COMPENSATION ON AN INDIVIDUAL LIABILITY BASIS.

AN OCCUPATIONAL DEAFNESS COMPENSATION FUND, TO BE FINANCED BY A 1.5% LEVY ON EMPLOYEES COMPENSATION INSURANCE PREMIUMS, WILL BE ESTABLISHED TO PAY COMPENSATION TO ELIGIBLE CLAIMANTS, GOVERNMENT, AS AN EMPLOYER, WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE FUND. TO ENABLE CLAIMANTS ΤΟ RECEIVE THEIR COMPENSATION AS EARLY AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT AWAITING THE BUILD-UP OF INCOME FOR THE FUND, GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO INJECT $100 MILLION AS START-UP FUND AND TO PROVIDE A FURTHER $115 MILLION INTEREST FREE LOAN TO THE FUND.

I SHOULD EMPHASISE THAT THIS COMPENSATION SCHEME IS ONLY A REMEDIAL MEASURE FOR DEALING WITH THE PROBLEM OF OCCUPATIONAL DEAFNESS. AS AN ESTABLISHED POLICY, THE GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF PREVENTION OF OCCUPATIONAL DEAFNESS. EMPLOYERS ARE REQUIRED BY LAW TO TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO REDUCE NOISE AT SOURCE IN THE WORKPLACE AND TO PROVIDE EAR PROTECTORS TO EMPLOYEES. EMPLOYEES ALSO HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY UNDER THE LAW ΤΟ USE EAR PROTECTORS WHEN THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE NOISE AT IN PARALLEL WITH ENFORCEMENT ACTION, THE GOVERNMENT

THE WORKPLACE.

WILL CONTINUE WITH PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES AND EDUCATION

ON HEARING CONSERVATION. WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH COUNCIL, MEASURES WILL CONTINUE TO BE TAKEN TO INCULCATE AN AWARENESS AMONG EMPLOYERS AS WELL AS EMPLOYEES OF THE IMPORTANCE OF HEARING PROTECTION.

SECURITY AND GUARDING SERVICES BILL

SECURITY, MR

FOLLOWING IS THE SPEECH BY THE SECRETARY FOR ALISTAIR APSREY, IN THE RESUMED DEBATE ON SECURITY SERVICES BILL IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

AND GUARDING

MR PRESIDENT,

I WOULD LIKE ΤΟ THANK MR WONG AND MEMBERS OF THE BILLS COMMITTEE FOR THEIR THOROUGH STUDY OF THE SECURITY AND GUARDING SERVICES BILL. THE COMMITTEE STAGE AMENDMENTS WHICH I AM GOING TO MOVE LATER THIS AFTERNOON ARE THE AGREED OUTCOME OF DISCUSSIONS IN THE BILLS COMMITTEE.

/THE BILL