Press Release

 

 

Speech by SEM at the Safety and Health Expo

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Following is a speech by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph W P Wong, at the opening ceremony of the

Safety and Health Expo at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre today (March 21):

Dr Ng, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to be here this morning to attend the Safety and Health Expo.

This is the first major event in the field of occupational safety and health held in Hong Kong in the new millenium. I am also delighted to see such a high powered audience made up of representatives from overseas administrations, the business world, workers' unions, the academia, safety and health practitioners, as well as information specialists. May I extend to all of you my warmest welcome to Hong Kong.

With the change of the century, Hong Kong's approach towards occupational safety has entered a new era. The Commissioner for Labour has introduced rather fully to you earlier this morning the "quiet revolution" that is taking place here and how we manage occupational safety and health in this vibrant city. Indeed, when the Safety Management Regulation made under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance becomes effective by the end of this year, Hong Kong will put the self-regulation concept firmly in a legislative framework. This is a concept which stresses the need for the active involvement of employers and employees in, and ownership of, better health and safety standards.

The transition from a prescriptive to a self-regulatory and management approach is important. The problem with prescriptive law is that it becomes out of date quickly. It ignores the fact that each industry or sector has its own hazards and its unique working environment. It does not induce the management and workers to assess their own workplace risks and devise their own solutions. In this vein, those working in the industry can be easily lured into complacency when they meet the standards set in the regulations, even though, as we are all aware, such standards represent the minimum prescribed for compliance across the board.

In our Safety Management Regulation, as well as in some other legislation to come, we shall set the goals rather than prescribe the standards based on sector or hazard. We shall require the duty holders to assess the hazards and take steps to eliminate or reduce them.

To prepare management and workers for the safety management approach to work safety, we have been promoting the concept of "shared responsibilities among employers, employees and the Government". Employers have the obligation to provide a safe and healthy working environment for their workers, and employees have to cooperate with their employers to ensure their own safety and that of their fellow workers. The Government should give the necessary support and assistance through the provision of an administrative and legislative framework.

As part of our efforts, Government launched the "Safety Charter" in 1996. This proves to be a highly successful initiative, and so far 305 employer and employee organizations have subscribed to the Charter.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am sure the exchange of views and sharing of experience in this conference and the associated workshops will give us new ideas on occupational safety and health. I have no doubt that a healthy workforce enhances productivity and a safe workplace increases business profits.

Thank you.

End/Tuesday, March 21, 2000

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