TNAG-0734-FCO40-938-Reports-of-Standing-Committee-on-the-Planning-Progress-of-Ho-1978 — Page 53

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COMMITEE TO MONITOR THE HONG KONG PLANNING PAPER: FIFTH MEETING

Walsh.

151.

1. As I indicated on the telephone, I do not think that paragraph (e) under Item 2 of the agenda on page 3 of the minutes of the meeting of 23 February reflects what I said or the facts. The failure of Hong Kong to be able to make improved declarations on Conventions Nos 17 and 42 concerned with workers' compensation is not related to the adequacy or otherwise of the labour inspector- ate in Hong Kong. In reply to a question about the labour inspectorate I said that it had been expanded considerably in recent years but I did not say -and neither did anybody else as I recall that the last visit by a UK factory inspector to Hong Kong was in the late sixties or that much of the current Hong Kong legislation was based on that visit.

2.

Two British labour inspectors visited Hong Kong in 1971 and produced a plan for the development of the inspectorate there which has been followed and up-dated since then by British factory inspectors. The present Chief Factory Inspector, appointed in 1976, is seconded from our Health and Safety Executive. Thus the minute referring to the labour inspectorate is not in accord with the facts and would certainly be challenged by Hong Kong. Mr Hurst has in fact commented on the inspectorate in paragraphs 14-16 of his report on his recent visit. He draws attention to the need for a further large expansion of the inspectorate; for people with higher qualifications to be recruited than previously, and for training needs to be met in part through UK courses.

3.

I would suggest that paragraph (e) Industrial Health and Safety might read:-

"The meeting heard that two International Labour Conventions

dealing with workers' compensation had not yet been fully applied. It was agreed that Hong Kong should urgently strive to meet these requirements relating to the repair and maintenance of prostheses and to the scheduling of silicosis and asbestosis as occupational diseases."

CODE IS - 17

Michael Walsh.

9 March 1978

M T Walsh

Deputy Overseas Labour Adviser

CONFIDENTIAL