Hong Kong: Health and safety

Original and updating author: Nicholas Chan, Squire Patton Boggs

See the legal services provided by the author of International > Hong Kong, including any discounts/offers for subscribers.

Note: Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. It has a high degree of autonomy and its own legal system, including in the area of employment law.

Summary

• General health and safety requirements for industrial and non-industrial workplaces are set out in the Occupational Safety and Health Ordinance. (See General)
• Employers and employees have various duties regarding health and safety. (See Duties on employers and employees)
• There is no general statutory obligation for safety representatives to be appointed or elected. (See Safety representatives)
• The governmental Commissioner of Labour monitors and enforces compliance with health and safety legislation. (See Enforcement and penalties)
• Employers must pay employees compensation for injuries that are sustained as a result of accidents that arise in the course of employment, and specified occupational diseases that are caused by the employer. (See Compensation for injury or illness)