The Labour and Welfare Bureau has proposed raising the ceiling for hearing aid subsidies for those with occupational deafness from HK$18,000 to HK$36,000 per head because the fund established for the purpose had a surplus of HK$368 million last year. The scheme would also be extended to cover employees who lose hearing in just one ear. Bureau secretary Matthew Cheung Kin-chung said the low use of the fund stemmed from a dwindling number of occupational deafness cases due to migration of heavy industry across the border and greater awareness among workers of the need to protect their ears.