There were 41,900 work injuries and an accident rate of 15.8 per thousand employees last year, down 34% and 40.8% on 1998.

Secretary for Labour & Welfare Matthew Cheung said today the significant falls were due to the joint efforts of the Government, employers, employees and trade organisations.

Speaking at the World Day for Safety & Health at Work and the presentation ceremony of the Outstanding Employees in Occupational Safety & Health Award Scheme, Mr Cheung said 1998 saw a record high of 63,526 work injuries and an accident rate of 26.7 per thousand employees, saying the figures dropped tremendously last year.

The improvement made by the construction industry was encouraging, he said, with the caseload of construction accidents and the accident rate per thousand workers plummeting from 19,588 and 247.9 in 1998 to 3,033 and 61.4 in 2008, representing a fall of 84.5% and 75.2%.

He said the city has also made tremendous progress in safeguarding the rights of employees in the long term.

"We will introduce the Statutory Minimum Wage Bill to the Legislative Council before its recess in July. This will mark a milestone in the protection of labour rights in Hong Kong," he said.

"As the number of labour disputes may increase at this time of economic downswing, we will put forward the Employment Ordinance (Amendment) Bill to the Legislative Council before it adjourns in July."

The bill will criminalise non-payment of Labour Tribunal awards, producing a deterrent effect on unscrupulous employers, he added.