The Occupational Deafness Compensation Board was established under the Occupational Deafness (Compensation) Ordinance, Chapter 469, on 1 June 1995. Its functions are to: administer the Occupational Deafness Compensation Fund; process and determine applications for compensation in respect of occupational deafness; conduct or finance educational and publicity programmes for the purpose of preventing occupational deafness; reimburse or directly pay any expenses reasonably incurred in the acquisition, fitting, repair or maintenance of hearing assistive devices for persons entitled to compensation for occupational deafness; conduct or finance programmes for the rehabilitation of persons suffering from occupational deafness.