LC
HONG KONG'S LABOUR LEGISLATION PROGRAMME
THE COMMISSIONER OF LABOUR'S ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE
COUNCIL ON 14th FEBRUARY, 1968
155/6
"Last year was a momentous year for Hongkong. Among many of its significant features, one of special importance to me was the widespread and sustained interest in labour matters. In previous years public attention focussed intermit:ently on the labour scene and, more often than not, on some industrial dispute with a dramatic appeal. I not only welcome this more serious approach to the complex problems of labour. I consider that it is long overdue.
"Probably about 1.6m people work in Hongkong and each person has individual problems. All these problems may at some time come to be considered, enerally or individually or directly or indirectly, by the Labour Department, In addition, there are many thousands of people from Hongkong working overseas and some of their problems also come to the attention of the Labour Departɛent.
"I am often asked if the Labour Department has considered this or that problem. I reply in all honesty that the department is constantly considering an exceedingly wide range of problems. This is inevitably so because I reckon that, each year, about 60,000 persons call at the offices of the department in person and that officers of the factory and labour inspectorataa make about 85,000 visits to industrial undertakings. In addition, about 20,000 personal interviews are conducted in respect of industrial and occupational injuries. These contacts with the general public and particularly the industrial labour force keep the department constantly aware of current problems.
"The regular and daily exchange of information between the public and officers of the department often raises difficulties over distinguishing between problems which are temporary but urgent and those which require more fundamental solutions. This is a dilemma for most Government department and one not peculiar to the Labour Department. Nonetheless, I think that it is more scute in the field of employment which is an essential, immediate, and personal part of the daily life of most of us.
Programse
"Over 12 months ago, I decided that one way which would beat enable me to keep in mind the contribution which the Labour Department could make towards improving the welfare, health, and safety of the people of Hongkong would be to set out in a departmental programme items of legislation which were then under consideration. As I am, concurrently, the Commissioner of Mines I included in this programe, for administrative convenience, items of legislation affecting the Mines Department. To ensure that the changing requirements of local circumstances were constantly taken into account and that the progress of individual items was kept under periodical examination, the departmental programme has regularly been reviewed at intervals of six weeks by the senior officers of both the Labour Department and Mines Department.
Priority
"At these reviews, developments are recorded, priorities re-assessed, and, when necessary, new items included. Cognisance da taken of the extent to which the departmental programme has been incorporated into Government's overall legislative priority programe because the speed at which the departmental programme is carried out depends ultimately on the priority accorded to individual items in Government's overall program®.
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