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The statutory functions of PCFB will be expanded to cover the implementation of rehabilitation programs in addition to its current duties to conduct and finance educational, publicity, research and other programs for the prevention of pneumoconiosis.

The Bill will be gazetted tomorrow (Friday) and introduced into the Legislative Council on December 6, 1995.

For those pneumoconiotics who were diagnosed to be suffering from the disease before the establishment of the statutory scheme in January 1981, the spokesman pointed out that a separate administrative scheme had been introduced in July 1993 under which they received an adjusted quarterly ex-gratia payment until death. The present quarterly payment is $10,560.

"The proposed improvements under the Bill will not be extended to this group of pneumoconiotics as they have been taken care of under a separate scheme. However, following the completion of a recent review, the Government aims to introduce certain improvements which will also take effect on the same date as those provided in the Bill," the spokesman said.

The improvement measures are:

* PCFB will pay and provide the pneumoconiotics with wheelchair, oxygen concentrator/cylinder and accessories in line with those provided for under the statutory scheme;

*the quarterly payments will be adjusted annually on July I each year in

accordance with changes in the CPI(A); and

reimbursement of funeral expenses will be revised in accordance with the biennial adjustment of the corresponding ceiling under the statutory scheme.

End/Thursday, November 23, 1995