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Friday, June 22, 1973
Mr. Yiu explained that generally speaking, those who were qualified
to receive sickness allowance were also entitled to be granted six paid
holidays a year.
These six holidays are the first two days of the Chinese New
Year, the Ching Ming Festival, the Dragon Boat Festival, the day following
the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the first day of January.
"To allow an employer the flexibility of operating his business,
he said, "these statutory holidays may be changed under certain conditions."
Mr. Yiu said that the revised legislation would benefit many more
workers because it covers all sectors of employment; increases the maximum
sickness allowance from 12 days to 24 days; and allows employers more
flexibility in fixing holidays.
He also pointed out that the law only prescribed the minimum
standards to be observed and by no way precluded an employer from offering
their employees better terms of employment.
Leaflets explaining the provisions of the sickness allowance and
holidays with pay are being prepared by the Labour Department and will be
distributed to the public free of charge as soon as they are ready.
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