Email this article Government Homepage
Speech by SEDL at 7th International Congress on Work Injuries Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation (English only)
*****************************************************

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Stephen Ip, at 7th International Congress on Work Injuries Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation today (June 27) (English only):

Dr Ng, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to join you at the 7th International Congress on Work Injuries Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation today.  It is a great honour for Hong Kong to host this important international conference.  On behalf of the Government of the Hong Kong SAR, I wish to extend my warmest welcome to you all. I am glad to learn that there are delegates and speakers from different parts of the world.

Work injury is indeed a common foe of labour welfare and economic development across the world.  Occupational accidents inflict pain and suffering on accident victims and their families and, in serious cases, deprive the victims of the right to work.  In addition to human suffering, work injuries also lead to considerable costs on our society.  According to the estimates of the International Labour Organisation, work-related accidents and diseases account for about 4% of the global gross domestic product.  

In Hong Kong, work injuries cost billions of dollars annually.  They also adversely affect productivity, increase employees' compensation insurance premium and burden our medical and social security systems.  

Clearly, prevention of work injuries and illnesses must be the basis of any society's commitment to fostering better life for its people and economic development.  The provision of reasonable compensation and successful rehabilitation of anyone who is injured at work must also be the priority of our society.

Protecting the well-being of our workforce has long been the priority of the HKSAR Government.  We have been putting in our best efforts, and working in partnership with the community, to enhance the standard of occupational safety and health in Hong Kong.  We are also administering a no-fault and non-contributory employees' compensation system as well as rehabilitation programmes to help employees injured at work.

I am glad to say that the collective and ongoing efforts of the Government and the community to improve safety and health at work in Hong Kong have started to bear fruit.  Our accident toll has shown a marked and sustained decrease over the last couple of years.  Later this morning, Mr Matthew Cheung, our Permanent Secretary for labour matters, will share with you how the HKSAR Government rises to the challenges of preventing work injuries and assisting victims of occupational accidents and diseases.

Enhancing the standard of occupational safety and health and continuously improving compensation system and rehabilitation services for injured workers are real challenges for all of us.  With experts from around the world, this Congress provides a valuable forum for us to exchange views, experiences and best practices.  I trust that in the next three days you will make full use of this conference to advance the causes of preventing work injuries, and provide a better compensation system and rehabilitation services to injured employees.  Your commitment and efforts will no doubt make a difference.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish the 7th International Congress on Work Injuries Prevention, Rehabilitation and Compensation a great success.  I also wish our overseas visitors a rewarding and memorable stay in Hong Kong.

Thank you very much.

Ends/Tuesday, June 27, 2006
Issued at HKT 11:28

NNNN