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it is fair to say that their quality has also improved considerably. The Unofficials have scrutinized the bills in greater depth and have proposed changes more frequently. A good case in point is the Securities Bill 1973, in which over 120 amendments were made as a result of representations by the Unofficials.
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Apart from the work directly related to this Council, the Unofficials are also actively involved in many areas of public service outside this Council such as education, medical, social welfare, trade and industry, auxiliary services, etc. Chapter 4 of the Fourth Annual Report of the Umelco Office readily shows the heavy burden of public services shouldered by the Unofficials. Many of my Unofficial Colleagues devote more than half their time in performing their public duties, but even then we do not feel we are doing enough. In recent discussions amongst the Unofficials it was realised that we need more support from the Umelco Office. This will mean more staff to help the Unofficials to obtain information, make investigations and carry out research.
Hong Kong is small, both in population and land area, but the Government and community have achieved a high degree, of sophistication and complexity, even by world standards. Recognising this development, the Government has employed management consultants over the past few years to re- structure the Government machinery with a view to improving its efficiency and effectiveness. I think it is also appropriate for the Unofficials to review their role and
part in this Council. Despite increasing activities and more time given by the Unofficials to their Council work in recent years, there are still adverse comments from various quarters of the public that the Unofficials are not doing enough to prod Government and control public.
expenditure.
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As honourable Members are aware, the Unofficials are,
generally speaking, very busy people and have their own normal business interests which are already time-consuming.
There is a limit to the amount of time and effort that each
Unofficial can devote to carrying out the Council work.
Therefore, with the increasing volume, sophistication and complexity of the work of this Council, the Unofficial
Members feel that there is justification for further
expanding the number of the Unofficials of this Council to,
say, twenty.
Sir, the Unofficial Members also consider that there is a
need to appoint to this Council persons from a broader segment of society so as to widen the range of expert
knowledge of the Unofficials and to ensure also a fuller
expression of the views of the whole of the people. of
Hong Kong,
There also may be some people whose appointment to this
Council is at present out of the question for lack of any
financial allowance to carry out the duties of the
Legislative Councillors. The Unofficial Members suggest
that the time has come, Sir, when provision should be made for appointment of persons whose experience befits them for membership of this Council but who could not afford to give up their time or their jobs unless they receive
adequate financial allowance for supporting themselves and their families. The introduction of a payment would make
it possible to choose as Members of this Council persons
who work among the lower strata of the organization in,
factories and shops.
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From time to time we heard. criticism that the present Unofficial Membership of this Council is heavily weighed
towards the interests of the management of commercial
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and industrial undertakings.
From my own experience I know that my Unofficial Colleagues do in fact maintain an objective and impartial attitude towards legislation which seeks to improve conditions of work and provide protection for labour. But for so long as the Unofficial composition of this Council is seen to be comprised of managers alone, be they professional or owner managers, there is bound to be criticism and suspicion by the general public here and by our critics overseas. It would therefore be a move forward in the right direction if appointment can be made to this Council of persons who can themselves speak for the workers of Hong Kong who number more than a million: in our 4 million population.
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more
Whilst on the subject of labour, I could not agree with you, Sir, when you said: "Hong Kong's prosperity depends fundamentally on its principal resource, its,
In the absence of diligent and adaptable work force". wide spread cffective trade unionism, Government has the special responsibility to ensure that labour would get
a fair share of our success and to seek continual improve- ment in working conditions and terms of employment in line with the advancement in cur industrial development.
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You, Sir, have already given in your Address to this Council a resume of our recent achievement in labour legislation and indicated what the Government would propose for the coming years. However, there is one particular area: of labour welfare which the Unofficial Members would like to
draw the attention of Government.
The lack of long-term benefits for industrial workers has attracted adverse comments from many people who have interest in our labour conditions. Practically all remunerations in industry are based on the short-term approach. For the mass of manual workers in Hong Kong, retirement benefits in the form of pension schemes or provident fund are, with a few exceptions, almost unheard of.
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