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Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) by the Secretary for Labour and Welare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at a media stand-up after visiting the construction site at International Commerce Centre today (September 13):
Reporter: Will there be an investigation?
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: Certainly, the Labour Department will launch a thorough investigation into this accident. This is a very serious accident and we are very sorry about this. We will make sure that similar accident will not occur in future.
Reporter: Any compensation?
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: Yes, according to the Employees Compensation Ordinance, the maximum statutory compensation would be as high as $1.76 million. But I have discussed with Sun Hung Kai, which is the developer of this building, Mr Kwok has promised me that tomorrow Sun Hung Kai will issue a cheque amounting to a million dollar for each bereaved family, whether they are injured or dead workers. And also they will look after all the funeral expenses, and in the long term, even look after the educational expenses of the children involved. So we are talking about doing everything possible, government and developer, to help the bereaved families. I am going to the hospital now.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Sunday, September 13, 2009
Issued at HKT 19:36
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