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company had not been abroad at the time of the closure.
In the final agreement the management conceded a "special hardship allowance", which was weighted in favour of the more lowly paid employees. Employees drawing less than $ 2,000 a month were awarded two months' pay if they had joined the China Mail before 1 January 1974. This award was halved if an employee:
(a) earned not less than 2,000 a month; or
(b) if he had joined the China Mail on or after 1 January 1974;
and was halved again if both (a) and (b) applied.
The settlement is more advantageous than the benefits provided for in Hong Kong's newly introduced severance pay legislation (which provides for one-third of amonth's pay for every year of service, subject to a minimum of two years' service). You will be glad to learn that the Hong Kong Labour Department's conciliation officers played an important part in bringing about a satisfactory settlement.
Your sincerely,
lovemary - Roberts.