XN000022-1996-06-05 — Page 35

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Fifthly, we have streamlined the employees compensation procedures. This has resulted in a reduction in the waiting time for attendance at Assessment Boards (for assessing the degree of permanent incapacity of injured employces) and for Court hearings on employees' compensation cases. We have also simplified the system for determining the compensation amount for permanent incapacity by extending the Certificate System of the Labour Department to cover all injury cases involving permanent incapacity.

In line with our commitment to promoting the safety and health of our working population, we will continue to make improvements to strengthen the protection of workers against work-related injuries as and when appropriate.

End

Agreement on liberalisation of global telecom market

Following is a question by the Hon Sin Chung-kai and a reply by the acting Secretary for Economic Services, Mr Leo Kwan, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Regarding the Government's participation in an international conference on the liberalisation of telecommunications markets convened by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in April this year, will the Government inform this Council:

(a) whether an agreement on the liberalisation of global telecommunications markets has been reached among member states of the WTO at the above conference; if so, what the details of the agreement are;

(b)

of the stance taken by the Government on the agreement reached and whether the Government had put forward any proposals at the conference; and