With the concerted efforts of all parties, Hong Kong's on-the-job safety performance has been improving continuously in recent years, Permanent Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Matthew Cheung says.

Addressing the opening of the "Care for Life Care for Safety" roving exhibition today, Mr Cheung said in the first half of 2003, the number of occupational injuries dropped 14.5% compared with the same period last year.

The accident rate per 1,000 workers also dropped, by 11.7%, from 18.7 to 16.5. The improvement was remarkable, Mr Cheung said.

However, he said, the government is concerned about the upward trend in the number of fatal cases.

Provisional figures indicate that the number of fatal cases in the first three quarters of 2003 increased by 38%, from 21 to 29, compared with the same period last year.

Of these, 25 occurred in the construction industry, representing an increase of 25% compared with 20 in the same period last year, he said.

To enhance the safety performance of the construction industry, the Labour Department has strengthened law enforcement at construction sites.

It inspected 4,230 sites in July and August, issuing 17 suspension notices and 183 improvement notices. It also initiated prosecutions against 235 offences.

In addition, the department has submitted to the Legislative Council a proposal to amend the Construction Sites (Safety) Regulations to require that, apart from principal contractors, appointed sub-contractors should be held responsible for breaches of law in the projects.

It is expected that the regulations could be approved by Legco in the coming weeks, he added.

Noting that illegal workers will bring about serious social problems in such areas as law and order and local employment, Mr Cheung said the department has strengthened co-operation with other law-enforcement departments to conduct joint operations and combat illegal employment.

Under the existing legislation, employing illegal workers is a criminal offence liable to a fine of $350,000 and imprisonment for three years upon conviction.

Those in charge of construction sites will breach the law as well if illegal workers are found working on their sites. The maximum penalty is a fine of $350,000.