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Employers and employees should unite to set hygiene standards for the workplace and adopt good housekeeping practices to create a safe and hygienic work environment.

Speaking at the Good Housekeeping Promotional Campaign 2003 - Workplace Hygiene Charter Signing Ceremony, the Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour (Labour), Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said today (August 25) that SARS had had a big impact on Hong Kong and other parts of the world over the past few months. Our health, social life and community and economic development had all been affected, he said.

Mr Cheung said that to prevent SARS, the Government had drawn up plans to improve environmental hygiene. Apart from stepping up law enforcement and strengthening publicity and civic education, Team Clean had been set up to raise awareness in the community of personal hygiene and health. "The improvement we have achieved is for all the world to see," he said.

"We all should spare no effort in keeping the environment clean in order to maintain our reputation as a hygienic and healthy place for business.

"Employers can draw up hygiene standards for the workplace and adopt good housekeeping to raise employees' awareness. A safe and hygienic workplace can be established through the concerted efforts of employers and employees," he said.

Jointly organised by the Occupational Safety and Health Council and government departments, the Good Housekeeping Promotional Campaign aims to promote the importance of keeping the workplace clean. It also ties in with the Clean Hong Kong Campaign to establish a safer and more hygienic work environment.

"Today's signing ceremony is one of the thematic events of the campaign," Mr Cheung said. "Over 200 companies from different industries and trades signed the Workplace Hygiene Charter. This is a milestone marking the pledge undertaken by both management personnel and employees to help establish a hygienic and healthy work environment.

"Although the charter is not a legal document, it demonstrates that both employers and employees are concerned about the environment and are willing to share their responsibilities in keeping it clean. This commitment is more meaningful than a legal document."

Mr Cheung urged all employers, employees and management staff of the companies signing the charter to cultivate good hygiene in the workplace.

End/Monday, August 25, 2003

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