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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL

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in the Service or still on indefinite sick leave? Is there any welfare plan at present for the family of a member of the Hawker Control Force who is killed or badly hurt in course of duty?

MR. B. A. BERNACCHI, CHAIRMAN OF THE HAWKERS SELECT COMMITTEE, replied as follows: -

On 16th May, 1966, Sergeant No. 43, YoUNG Shiu-man, was the victim of an acid attack by an unknown person. He was admitted to hospital immediately and was discharged on 27th May, 1966. He was granted sick leave on full pay until 10th September, 1966, and resumed full duty on 24th October, 1966, after he had taken a further period of vacation leave. Since his resumption of duty, he has been carrying out full-time duty as Barrack Sergeant in the Western District of Hong Kong Island.

A Medical Board reported on 12th September, 1966, that there was only superficial scarring of the cornea of his left eye which, with correction by glasses, retains more or less normal vision. Sergeant YOUNG is able to carry out the usual clerical duties attached to his post with the aid of glasses. The Hawker Control Force Ordinance includes provision for a welfare fund. The fund is not, however, intended to be used to support families of members of the Hawker Con- trol Force who are killed or hurt in the course of their duty, as provision is made for them in Government Pension Regulations and in the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance. Sergeant YOUNG has claimed and received $7,200 under the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance for the loss of his right eye.

I would take this opportunity of saying that the attack from behind on this Hawker Control Sergeant was one of the most cowardly acts that I have encountered for a long time. I am sure that it is greatly deprecated by the aver- age hawker. There is a lot of criticismg sometimes about the Hawker Control Force but, what happened to this Sergeant demonstrates the difficulties inherent in their task. This sergeant was the first sergeant to be promoted from the ranks of the Hawker Control Force personnel as opposed to sergeants seconded from the police. The Hawker Control Force is the disciplined force that carries out the executive wishes of this Council and is deserving of this Council's full support, particularly in urging Government to eradicate differences in pay levels from that of the police.

MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, can you tell us the probable cause of the attack on this particular Sergeant?

CHAIRMAN:-Sir, I do not know the probable cause, and nobody knows the probable cause.

MR. HU:-As regards the condition of this particular Sergeant, did he lose the entire sight of his right eye?

MR. BERNACCHI :---Yes.

MR. HU:-Has he now only part of his sight in his left eye?

MR. BERNACCHI:-It has been corrected by glasses to more or less normal vision. However, his face is badly scarred by the acid.

DR. BELL:-Mr. Chairman, I would like to ask another supple- mentary question, you may rule it out of order. I am surprised that the loss of vision in one eye, which means the loss of half the normal vision, plus the bad scarring of the face, is only worth $7,000. Does Government take out the normal Workmen's Compensation? Is that damages awarded by a Court to this particular Sergeant?

CHAIRMAN:-These questions, I am afraid, are beyond my com- petence, but I am quite sure that the normal machinery of the operation of the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance was used.

MR. BERNACCHI:-If I might supplement your answer, Mr. Chair- man? Yes, whether or not Sergeant YOUNG took a Court case against the Government, I do not know, but the award of $7,200 is the com- pensation award under the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance.

MR. HU:-Mr. Chairman, just a question on a point of clarification. So, your answer to the last part of my question is negative? My ques- tion is: is there any welfare plan at present for the family of a member of the Hawker Control Force who is killed or badly hurt in the course of duty? Is your answer to this part of my question negative? There is no welfare plan at present?

CHAIRMAN: --The answer is yes, I mean, you are correct, Sir, (Laughter), but with this qualification, that provision is made in either the Government Pensions Regulations or in the Workmen's Compensa- tion Ordinance for this kind of case, and the claimant chooses the piece of legislation which will give him the best results.

MR. HU-I agree, Mr. Chairman, but the Workmen's Compensa- tion Ordinance is for everybody, not particularly for the Hawker Control Force. I understand that there are particular welfare plans for the Police Force, but we have nothing for the Hawker Control Force. Is that correct?