TNAG-1449-FCO40-1953-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 185

2

-

for compensation, and pneumoconiosis victims are compensated from

a Fund financed by a levy on the construction and quarry industries.

This arrangement is necessary because the disease, which is specific

to these two industries, can take many years to make its presence

felt, and it is therefore difficult, if not impossible, for

liability for the payment of compensation to be attached to an

individual employer. However, this difference apart, the principles

for compensation of pneumoconiosis victims should accord with the

principles adopted generally for employees' compensation. In

other words, the construction and quarry industries should not be

expected to contribute by way of levy substantially more than is

necessary to ensure that all pneumoconiosis victims receive the

appropriate compensation.

Diversion of a proportion of levy income

into education and publicity work would in effect be requiring one

sector of industry to finance activities which are elsewhere

funded out of general revenue, and might be considered unfair by

the concerned industries.

Nevertheless, I recognize that the work in question

is desirable, that it

to be financed in the immediate

future through public funds, and that it could ey, with minor

amendments to the Ordinance, be financed out of the levy on the

construction and quarry industries. Accordingly, I am prepared to

consult the views of these industries on Dr. Chiu's proposal. It

is possible that prevention now might result in fewer compensation

cases, and hence a lower rate of levy, later. If they are generally

agreeable, I would be prepared to consider appropriate amendments

to the Ordinance.