EMPLOYMENT
108
Police for further investigation. Subsequently, 73 of these employees were confirmed to be illegal immigrants or persons not allowed to take up employment in Hong Kong.
Labour Legislation
The government's policy is to achieve a level of safety, health and welfare for employees in Hong Kong broadly equivalent to those provided in Hong Kong's neighbouring countries at a similar stage of economic development. These objectives have been achieved through legislative enactments which totalled 121 in the past 10 years.
During 1991, 13 pieces of new legislation were enacted. The more significant items include the Employees' Compensation Assistance Ordinance which established a scheme for the payment for employees' compensation and damages to injured employees or their dependants in cases where the employers or insurers concerned have defaulted, and an amend- ment to the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Ordinance which increased an employee's entitlement to severance payments under the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund.
The Commissioner for Labour is the principal adviser to the government on labour affairs and initiates proposals for new labour legislation or amendments to existing legislation. The legislative proposals are then forwarded to the Education and Manpower Branch of the Government Secretariat for policy approval prior to preparation of draft bills by the Attorney General's Chambers.
During the year, there were 3 993 prosecutions for breaches of ordinances and regula- tions administered by the Labour Department. Fines totalling $15,542,240 were imposed.
Labour Advisory Board
Playing an active role in the formulation of labour policies and legislation is the Labour Advisory Board. Established in 1927, the board has 12 members, six representing em- ployers and six representing employees with the Commissioner for Labour or his deputy as the ex-officio chairman. Of the employers' representatives, five are nominated by five major employer associations and one appointed ad personam. Five of the employees' representatives are elected by registered employees' trade unions and one appointed ad personam. All 12 members are appointed by the Governor.
To cope with the increasing range and complexity of work and to encourage greater participation by employers and employees, committees have been set up on special subject areas such as employment services, the implementation of international labour standards, industrial safety and health, labour relations and employees' compensation. A number of employers and employees are co-opted to serve on these committees. The process of consultation through the Labour Advisory Board ensures that the views of the industries concerned, employers and the employees would be sufficiently canvassed in the formulation of labour policies to provide a progressive yet balanced programme of labour legislation for the benefit of all concerned.
International Labour Conventions
International labour conventions adopted by the International Labour Organisation set standards on matters relating to basic human rights, employment, social policy, labour administration, labour relations, conditions of work and social security. The Commissioner for Labour ensures that Hong Kong's obligations under the international labour con- vention are observed. As a dependent territory of the United Kingdom, Hong Kong