The number of occupational diseases has plunged 73.5% from 948 cases in 1998 to 251 last year, while the incidence rate has fallen from 39.7 to 10.3 cases per 100,000 employed workers.

Permanent Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Matthew Cheung today told the Legislative Council the number of confirmed silicosis cases has fallen for four consecutive years, to 69 last year.

More than 90% of the reported cases were from the quarry and construction sectors, and of these, 50% have history of employment in hand-dug caisson operations where workers had been exposed to extremely high levels of silica dust.

Mr Cheung said 52 cases of occupational deafness were diagnosed and compensated last year, the lowest since the problem was made compensatory under the Occupational Deafness (Compensation) Ordinance in 1996.

There were 43 cases of tenosynovitis of the hand or forearm. The significant drop from 81 cases in 2000 is a result of intensified publicity and health education.

There were 42 tuberculosis cases last year, and no evidence of a rising trend. But Mr Cheung expects occupation-related cases will continue to be seen in the coming years as Hong Kong has a high endemicity of tuberculosis, with 6,295 cases last year.

Reducing cases

The Labour Department's Occupational Health Service has been providing a range of services in the prevention of occupational diseases, including investigation of notified cases, provision of clinical services and occupational health promotion, and drawing up legislation and law enforcement.

He said 2,435 investigations were conducted last year to confirm the diagnosis of the index cases, look for other unreported cases, and advise the relevant employers to take remedial safety and health control measures.

Mr Cheung said the department's Occupational Health Clinic provided 8,126 consultations last year, and performed medical examinations for 1,322 radiation workers and government workers exposed to specific hazards to identify early abnormalities arising from work.

On occupational health promotion, 1,746 talks have been held and publications on various occupational health issues have been published.

On legislation and law enforcement, Mr Cheung said the Factories & Industrial Undertakings Ordinance and the Occupational Safety & Health Ordinance provide protection for almost all employees across the board.

Last year, labour officers conducted 5,953 workplace inspections. A total of 1,067 warnings, 107 improvement notices and nine suspension notices were issued and 17 prosecutions taken out.