WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 1974
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FOR THE COMING SESSION, THE GOVERNOR SAID, REGULATIONS WOULD BE SUBMITTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TO REDUCE THE MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE OVERTIME FOR WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS. +WE HAVE IN MIND A REDUCTION FROM 300. TO 250 HOURS A YEAR FROM THE BEGINNING OF NEXT YEAR AND A FURTHER REDUCTION TO 200 HOURS IN 1976.+
ON THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL, SIR MURRAY NOTED THAT A SECOND TRIBUNAL WAS SET UP THIS YEAR ON A PERMANENT BASIS.
AT PRESENT THE JURISDICTION OF THE TRIBUNAL 15 LIMITED TO INDIVIDUAL CLAIMS FOR SUMS OF MONEY ARISING FROM A CONTRACT OF EMPLOYMENT.
THE GOVERNMENT, HE WENT ON, INTENDED TO INTRODUCE A NEW LABOUR RELATIONS BILL SHORTLY. +THE BILL IS DESIGNED TO PROVIDE STATUTORY BACKING FOR THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE LABOUR. DEPARTMENT AND FOR PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED IN A LABOUR DISPUTE UTE CONCILIATION HAS FAILED,+ SIR MURRAY EXPLAINED.
WHEN
THE GOVERNOR POINTED OUT THAT THE PROPOSED BILL, IN ITS PRESENT FORM, DELIBERATELY AVOIDED PROVISION OF POVERS TO
IMPOSE COMPULSORY SETTLEMENTS, AND HE DREW THE COUNCIL'S ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT ELSEWHERE SUCH COMPULSORY POWERS HAD PROVED CONSPICUOUSLY INEFFECTIVE.
TURNING TO THE PROMOTION OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, SIR MURRAY SAID THE MATTER STILL REQUIRED FURTHER URGENT ATTENTION. +FURTHER REGULATIONS WILL SOON BE INTRODUCED TO COVER CARGO HANDLING AT WHARVES, QUAYS AND GODOUNS,+ HE REVEALED. +OTHERS ARE PROJECTED FOR A VARIETY OF SPECIALISED INDUSTRIAL PROCESSES BUT THE ONLY MAJOR AREA ON WHICH A GOOD DEAL OF WORK REMAINS TO BE DONE IS THAT OF GUARDING MACHINERY.+
THE GOVERNOR STRESSED THAT IMPROVED INDUSTRIAL SAFETY COULD NOT BE ACHIEVED BY THE ENACTMENT OF SPECIAL REGULATIONS. ALONE.
+THE CO-OPERATION OF EMPLOYERS AND WORKERS IS ESSENTIAL AND STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN TO ENCOURAGE THEIR INVOLVEMENT THROUGH A FIVE-YEAR PROGRAMME OF ACTION INCLUDING THE EXTENSION OF SAFETY TRAINING AND INCREASED PUBLICITY.+
ON THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION ORDINANCE, HE SAID THE ORDINANCE WAS DUE FOR A MAJOR OVERHAUL DURING THE NEXT TWO YEARS. IN PARTICULAR, HE MENTIONED SILICOSIS, ONE OF THE MOST SERIOUS OCCUPATIONAL DISEASES OCCURRING IN HONG KONG, WHICH HAS NEVER BEEN INCLUDED IN THE SCHEDULE TO THE ORDINANCE BECAUSE IT TAKES A LONG TIME FOR THE DISEASE TO BECOME APPARENT.
+A SPECIAL COMPENSATION SCHEME FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM THE DISEASE WILL BE INTRODUCED DURING THIS SESSION,+ HE SAID.
TOUCHING ON INDUSTRIAL TRAINING, THE GOVERNOR NOTED THAT THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL, DURING ITS FIRST FULL YEAR OF OPERATION, HAD BEEN CONSIDERING A DRAFT BILL DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A LEGISLATIVE FRAMEWORK FOR APPRENTICESHIP SCHENES.
اشتهر
+WORK ON THIS IS IN THE FINAL STAGES AND IT IS INTENDED THAT THE BILL SHOULD REACH THIS COUNCIL DURING THE COMING SESSION. THE RATE OF FURTHER PROGRESS IN THIS FIELD WILL BE TO SOME EXTENT DEPENDENT ON THE SUCCESS OF EFFORTS TO RECRUIT SUITABLY QUALIFIED TECHNICAL STAFF TO SUPPORT THE LECENTLY CREATED TRAINING DIVISION WITHIN THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.+
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