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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 1974
UNOFFICIALS PRESS FOR WIDER PUBLIC REPRESENTATION IN LEGCO
DIRECT WORKERS' REPRESENTATION PROPOSED ******
UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY LAUNCHED A DRIVE FOR WIDER PUBLIC REPRESENTATION ON THE COUNCIL AND FOR WORKERS TO BE GIVEN A DIRECT VOICE IN HONG KONG'S LEGISLATURE.
THEY ALSO ASKED FOR ADEQUATE FINANCIAL ALLOWANCE TO HELP THE NOT TOO WELL OFF TO CONTRIBUTE THEIR SERVICES TO THE COUNCIL.
+ THE INTRODUCTION OF A PAYMENT WOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO CHOOSE AS MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL PERSONS WHO WORK AMONG THE LOWER STRATA CF THE ORGANIZATION IN FACTORIES AND SHOPS,+ THE SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, DR. THE HON. CHUNG SZE-YUEN SAID.
SPEAKING ON A MOTION OF THANKS TO THE GOVERNOR'S ADDRESS, DR. CHUNG SUGGESTED THAT THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERSHIP SHOULD BE EXPANDED FROM 15 TO 20 AND THAT THE ADDITIONAL MEMBERS BE SELECTED FROM A BROADER SEGMENT OF SOCIETY TO ENSURE A FULLER EXPRESSION OF THE VIEWS OF THE WHOLE OF THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG.+
DESPITE CRITICISM TO THE CONTRARY, HE SAID THE UNOFFICIALS DID 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 ONE MILLION IN OUR FOUR MILLION POPULATION, HE SAID.
DR. CHUNG AND HIS COLLEAGUES ALSO FELT THAT THE TIME HAD COME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THE FEASIBILITY OF ESTABLISHING A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND FOR MANUAL WORKERS TO BE MANAGED BY A STATUTORY BODY.
IN PRINCIPLE, HE SAID, EMPLOYERS COULD BE ASKED TO CONTRIBUTE FIVE PER CENT OF THEIR EMPLOYEES' WAGES AND, IF DESIRABLE, SOME KIND OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS COULD BE INCORPORATED INTO THE FUND..
+THIS FUND WILL NOT ONLY HELP PROVIDE THE LONG TERM BENEFITS FOR THE LOWER INCOME WORKERS BUT WILL ALSO CREATE THE INVOLVEMENT OF A GREAT MASS OF PEOPLE. THESE PEOPLE WILL HAVE A STAKE IN HONG KONG AND A SENSE OF BELONGING.+
/HE NOTED THAT
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