Construction is one of Hong Kong's biggest industries, and has made tremendous contribution to building Hong Kong into a world— class city and business hub. Yet it is also one of the most dangerous industries. In 1998, the construction industry recorded the highest number of accidents, the highest number of fatalities as well as the highest accident rate among all industries in Hong Kong. Over the past few years, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government has been fully committed to enhancing the standards of safety and health on construction sites. We subscribe to the principle that the primary responsibility for safety and health at work lies with those who create the risks and those who work with them. Contractors have a duty, both morally and legally, to ensure the safety and health at work for all those under their employ. Construction workers, on the other hand, must cooperate with their contractors and do not put their lives and those of others at risk. Our strategy has, therefore, been to foster self— regulation by duty holders, through legislation and enforcement, education and training as well as publicity and promotion. We also believe that safety is a shared responsibility. We have mobilised major players and key stakeholders of the construction industry in pursuit of the common goal of inculcating a strong safety culture. Our collective efforts are paying handsome dividends. We have seen clear and concrete signs that the safety performance of the construction industry in Hong Kong has been steadily improving. But we will not be complacent. We will continue to build on the progress made over the last few years and develop new initiatives to meet our commitment to ensure that the safety and health of workers at work on sites are properly managed and controlled.
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