TNAG-1364-FCO40-1810-Hong-Kong-Hansard-reports-and-minutes-of-the-meetings-of-the-1986 — Page 84

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It follows

therefore that the

levy on the

quarry and construction industries which finances the

work of the Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund Board

should be kept under review to ensure that, with an

appropriate safety margin, no more money is collected

than is necessary to carry out the Board's functions,

most importantly the payment of compensation.

now considers that it has more than enough money to

carry out its functions and has, correctly, recommended

to the Government that the rate of the levy be reduced.

The Board

As Mr. Ho is

is aware, the Fund Board, among its

other functions, keeps a close watch on trends in its

income and expenditure and I have no doubt that it will

recommend to the Government a further reduction in the

rate of levy if this seems desirable.

would be reluctant to

While sympathizing with Mr. Ho's motives, I

consider an expansion of the

functions of the

the Fund Board. Education, publicity and

research in connection with occupational diseases are

desirable activities, but they should be undertaken in a

co-ordinated manner with other industrial safety and

Occupational health matters as resources and priorities

allow. To use part of the levy on the construction and

for these purposes would entail

quarry

treating

industries

this

particular

aspect

of

employees'

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