ENG-1954 — Page 52

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1954

for purposes of safety, health and welfare or in con- nexion with the employment of women and young persons. The same reasons require that inspectors extend their activities to the hundreds of cottage industries in domestic buildings and squatter areas. A total of 15,085 visits were made by the inspectorate during the year. Of these 2,323 were in connexion with industrial and occupational accidents and work- men's compensation; 667 were night visits to industrial premises in connexion with the employment of women and young persons in prohibited hours; 831 were visits to young persons employed in industry; 103 were wage inquiries and 92 were visits to apprentices. The remain- ing 11,069 were routine inspections of workplaces for the enforcement of safety, health and welfare provisions.

During the year 1,714 occupational and industrial accidents (92 fatal) involving 1,748 persons were reported and investigated. Of these, 1,143 (20 fatal) were in factories and workshops. This is a total increase of 1,077 (45 fatal) and in factories and workshops, an increase of 671 (6 fatal). The accident frequency rate for industrial workers has increased from 4.6 to 6 per thousand workers and fatalities from o.13 to 0.16 per thousand. The considerable increase in recorded acci- dents, although due in part to the increased number of industrial establishments, is mainly the result of increased reporting brought about by the provisions of the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance.

Workmen's Compensation

The Workmen's Compensation Ordinance came into force on 1st December, 1953, and 1954 was the first full year of operation. Over 1,700 cases were dealt

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