TNAG-0966-FCO40-1185-Legislation-for-employment-in-Hong-Kong-1980 — Page 272

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in terms of legislative drafting and, second, to deal with the remainder, which are more complicated in terms of legislative drafting or which involve further detailed internal consultation. The specific items for consideration in the two bills, as seen at present, are:

First Bill

(a) removal of the wage ceiling (at present $5,000 per

month) for non-manual workers;

(b) raising the maximum limits of compensation (from

$60,000 to $126, 000 for death, and from $80,000 to $144,000 for permanent total incapacity), the minimum limits of compensation (from $9,600 to $42,000 for death, and from $12, 800 to $48, 000 for permanent total incapacity) and constant attention allowance (from $32,000 to $57,000), with age of worker taken into account; and additional provisions for biennial reviews of limits;

(c) revision of the First Schedule to the Ordinance con-

cerning the percentage loss of earning capacity for various injuries (appropriate increases and addition of new items);

(d) making employers liable for the cost of repair and

renewal of prostheses and surgical appliances for a period of 10 years subject to a maximum of $30,000; the Government to bear costs thereafter.

Second Bill

(e) establishment of more effective machinery (a two-tier

Board structure) for assessing compensation;

(f)

measures to expediate the processing of applications and payment of compensation;

(g) numerous amendments to the existing Ordinance aimed to

remove ambiguities and deficiencies and to improve effectiveness;

(h) compulsory insurance and the establishment of a central fund (similar to a Motor Insurers' Bureau and to be administered by the Accident Insurance Association) to cater for cases of non-payment of compensation (cases of default due to insolvency of insurance companies to be excluded initially). Guidance on whether this proposal should be incorporated in the second bill will be sought from Council when the first bill is submitted for discussion.

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