ENG-1974 — Page 68

EMPLOYMENT

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are required to obtain a licence from the Commissioner for Labour before starting operation. During the year, 41 licences were issued to employment agencies catering for employment of persons within Hong Kong and 13 to those catering for employment

overseas.

Industrial Health

The industrial health unit of the Labour Department offers an advisory service to the government and industry on matters relating to the health of workers. The unit is primarily concerned with preventing occupational diseases and protecting workers against hazards in their working environment. These hazards are reported by the statutory notification of occupational diseases, by the factory inspectorate, or by officers of the unit. Control is achieved by environmental and biological monitoring and health education. The unit's laboratory, staffed by technicians trained in industrial hygiene, has been designated as a collaborating laboratory on air pollution by the World Health Organisation.

The measurement of concentrations in the air, such as chromium, lead, man- ganese, mercury, solvents, silica dust and sulphur dioxide, and the investigation of standards of thermal comfort, ventilation noise and lighting, also form a major part of the duties of the unit. Medical examinations, including X-rays and pathological investigations, are also arranged for workers exposed to risks of lead, radiation, fluoride toxicity or silica dust, divers and compressed air workers.

Responsibility for the clinical examination, case-work, and medical assessment of injured workers lies with the industrial health unit. Visits to the homes and places of work of injured workers are made by the health visitors of the unit.

The workmen's compensation unit administers the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance and is responsible for ensuring that injured workers or their dependants receive the compensation to which they are legally entitled. The Workmen's Compensa- tion Ordinance was amended on March 28, by raising the ceiling for non-manual workers to $2,000 a month and the maximum amount of compensation from $60,000 to $80,000. This amendment became operative from July 1.

The air pollution control unit operates under the guidance of the air pollution control officer, assisted by 11 smoke inspectors. The unit is responsible for the ad- ministration of the Clean Air Ordinance, Clean Air (Furnaces, Ovens and Chimneys) (Installation and Alteration) Regulations 1972, and the Clean Air (Restriction and Measurement of Smoke Emission) Regulations 1973. It offers free constructive advice to fuel-users on the efficient use of fuel and the reduction of smoke emissions from their plants.

Industrial Training

In October 1973 the Governor appointed the Hong Kong Training Council, under the chairmanship of Mr T. K. Ann, to advise him on measures necessary to ensure a comprehensive system of training geared to meet the developing needs of Hong Kong's economy. The training council succeeded the Industrial Training Advisory Committee (ITAC).