Asbestos in Hong Kong
Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident
Victims
22-23 November 2013
Introduction of Association for the
Rights of Industrial Accident
Victims (ARIAV)
founded in 1981
 a non-profit-making charitable
organization
 formed by a group of work injury victims,
occupational diseases sufferers and
families of industrial fatalities.

Goals
a) to fight for the rights of work injury
victims, occupational diseases sufferers
and families of industrial fatalities,
 b) to urge the Government to improve the
standard of occupational safety and
health so as to protect the workers,
 c) to promote the awareness of
occupational safety and health among the
general public of Hong Kong.

The use of Asbestos in
Hong Kong
The use of asbestos in Hong Kong
cars’ braking
system
 electrical
products
 the insulation of
the cable in the
power station
and transformer
station

Boiler
incineration plant
building and
chimney
The use of asbestos in Hong Kong
The use of asbestos in Hong Kong
Housing
asbestos based grille panel
in balcony and staircase.

corrugated cement sheet for the roof in villages
The use of asbestos in Hong Kong
Actions in 2013
Media exposed
that asbestos
were disposed
illegally in Ma
Tong Village.
Ma Tong Village Asbestos Issue in Jan
some
asbesto
s had
been
cleaned
; but
some
were
covered
by
canvas.
Ma Tong Village Asbestos Issue in Jan
everywhe
re were
asbestos
fragment
Ma Tong Village Asbestos Issue in Jan
Petitioned to
the
Environment
al Protection
Department
Ma Tong Village Asbestos Issue in Jan
Meeting with
Environment
al Protection
Department
Officer
Ma Tong Village Asbestos Issue in Jan
Media exposed a
construction site
used asbestos
fireproof carpets
Shek Mun Hong Kong Bank Building
Construction Site Issue in Feb
Workers were assigned to clean
asbestos scrap by hands
We promoted asbestos hazards to
the workers outside the
construction site
Workers told us they worried
about their health
We assisted the involved workers
to do a body check
Shek Mun Hong Kong Bank Building
Construction Site Issue in Feb
Urged government to enhance
disposing asbestos legally and ban all
kinds of asbestos
Media
exposed
Yin Kong
Village’s
asbestos
problem
Yin Kong Village Issue in Aug
We found a huge
size of asbestos
sheet
Used as hoardings
to separate the
fields
Yin Kong Village Issue in Aug
Some had been
seriously
damaged
Yin Kong Village Issue in Aug
Yin Kong Village Issue in Aug
Meeting with
Environment
Protection
Department and
share our
suggestions
Yin Kong Village Issue in Aug
Since the
government do
not announce
which building
includes
asbestos, people
cannot protect
themselves
Press conference about Banning
all kinds of asbestos in Oct
Petition and submit a letter to
legislative council members in Oct
- Conference was launched by Pneumoconiosis Compensation Fund
Board
- Share our suggestions
Conference on Joining Hands to
Eliminate Asbestos Hazards in Nov
Our rehabilitation service for the patients and their carers
Conference on Joining Hands to
Eliminate Asbestos Hazards in Nov
Media concern the
asbestos present
situation
We assisted them to
talk to the patients
Media’s interview
Grille panel includes asbestos
Investigated in Yin Kong Village
with media
Media’s interview
 Totally
ban asbestos in the
coming Jun
 X use
 X supply
 X import
 X transhipment
Asbestosis
Compensation
Before 1981, asbestosis compensation
were from government, that’s an one-off
compensation
 In 1981, The Pneumoconiosis
Compensation Fund Board was
established
 Asbestosis who were suffered after 1981
could get compensation from the board by
one-off or two-season

Asbestosis Compensation
Since the patients who suffered before 1981 or after 1981
had different compensation, workers request an equal
compensation treatment for all asbestosis
Asbestosis Compensation
Fighting result in 1993
•From one-off
compensation to
monthly
compensation
•Adjust the
compensation
items
Asbestosis Compensation
Request to
improve the
compensation
amount in 2011
Asbestosis Compensation
 Present compensation items
1. pain, suffering and loss of amenities
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
HKD
3,220/month
Compensation for period prior to date of
diagnosis
Compensation for care and attention
Expenses for medical treatment
Expenses for medical appliances
Compensation for death
Funeral expenses, HKD 70,000
Asbestosis Compensation
Research the rehabilitation needs of
asbestosis in 1996-1998
result: they had Physical and psychological
needs
 Set up a rehabilitation service (Fun in the
community )for asbestosis in 1998, include
- exercise
- healthy talks
- psychological support
- gathering
- entertainment

Asbestosis rehabilitation
Healthy talks
Asbestosis rehabilitation
entertainment
exercise
Asbestosis rehabilitation
Start in 2009
 To improve patients and caregivers life
quality
 Service areas
- intensive counseling service
- hotline service
- counseling
- talks
- support group

Supporting Service to caregivers
Supporting Service to caregivers

Start in 2011

Encourage workers to do a lung checking,
and protect pneumoconiosis and
mesothelioma disease
Medical Surveillance Programme
The end
Thank you!
The existing asbestos
problem in Hong Kong
Private buildings
include asbestos
The existing asbestos problem in
Hong Kong
Asbestos are used generally in villages
The existing asbestos problem in
Hong Kong
Problem
•people reused asbestos
in a wrong way,
like rails and
covers
The existing asbestos problem in
Hong Kong
Problem
•Workers dismantle,
collect and pack the
asbestos in a wrong
way
•Workers broke the
large size asbestos
sheet into small
pieces, the dust will
split up
The existing asbestos problem in
Hong Kong

Public is lack of knowledge of asbestos’
dangerous

For the demolition, no compulsory
examination to the contractor

Contractor will ignore to use a specify
process to dismantle and package the
asbestos

When asbestos was been founded, the
contractor just need to report
The existing asbestos problem in
Hong Kong
Our planning
Our planning
1. Keep monitoring the legislation process
of banning all kinds of asbestos
2. Request the government to make a
general survey and list out all of asbestos
buildings
3. Urge government to label all asbestos
buildings and materials
Our planning
4. Push government to build up a exam and
report system before contractor to
dismantle asbestos buildings.
5. Public education and promotion (target
for minorities and villagers )
6. Fight for improve the compensation and
service, e.g. palliative service
Our planning
7. Work with China
e.g. education, organizing skills and
sharing
Our planning
Thank you !