6. I was injured and disabled due to an accident that happened during my work. What compensation is payable to me or my family members?

This depends on the nature of the disability you are suffering. In general, the nature of the disability is classified into permanent incapacity or temporary incapacity.

a) Permanent Incapacity

This is sub-divided into two categories:
i) permanent total incapacity; and
ii) permanent partial incapacity

Compensation in cases of permanent total incapacity is as follows ( section 7 of the Employees' Compensation Ordinance ) :

* Monthly earnings are subject to a maximum of $21,000 for calculating compensation for permanent incapacity.

For permanent partial incapacity, the amount of compensation is as follows ( section 9 of the Employees' Compensation Ordinance ) :

(Amount of compensation due to permanent total incapacity) X (Percentage of loss of earning capacity)*

* The percentage of loss of earning capacity is assessed by the Employees’ Compensation Assessment Board according to the ECO.

b) Temporary Incapacity

An employee is entitled to receive periodical payments during the period of temporary incapacity up to 24 months. When the employee’s temporary incapacity lasts more than 24 months or a further period that the Court may allow (that further period must not exceed 12 months), the employee will no longer be entitled to periodical payments, and will be regarded as having suffered permanent (total or partial) incapacity with compensation assessed accordingly.

The periodical payments should be calculated as follows ( section 10 of the Employees' Compensation Ordinance ) :

(Monthly earnings at the time of the accident - monthly earnings after the accident) X 4/5

For more details on the calculation of all relevant compensations, please contact the Employees' Compensation Division of the Labour Department (telephone hotline: 27171771; e-mail: enquiry@labour.gov.hk).