WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1975
HE ADDED : +THE PUBLISHED REPORT OF A BOARD OF INQUIRY MAY INCLUDE RECOMMENDATIONS, WHICH, WHILE NOT LEGALLY BINDING, SHOULD BY VIRTUE OF THEIR PUBLICATION HELP TO BRING ABOUT A SETTLEMENT.+
HE STRESSED THAT THE BOARD OF INQUIRY PROCEDURE WOULD BE AN ALTERNATIVE TO ARBITRATION.
MR. PRICE SAID THAT CONSULTATIONS REGARDING THE RIGHT OF AUDIENCE BEFORE AN ARBITRATOR OR BOARD OF INQUIRY HAD BEEN HELD WITH THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD AND AS A RESULT AMENDMENTS MAKING IT CLEAR WHO HAD THE RIGHT OF AUDIENCE WOULD BE MOVED IN THE COMMITTEE STAGE.
BOTH THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD AND THE JOINT ASSOCIATIONS COMMITTEE ON EMPLOYERS/EMPLOYEES RELATIONS HAD SUPPORTED THE GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF THE BILL INCLUDING THE COOLING-OFF PROVISIONS.
BUT THE JOINT ASSOCIATIONS COMMITTEE HAD SUGGESTED THAT AN ARBITRATOR'S AWARD SHOULD BE MADE LEGALLY BINDING.
+THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO THE GOVERNMENT BECAUSE OF THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF IMPOSING PENAL SANCTIONS ON A LARGE NUMBER OF WORKERS,+ MR. PRICE SAID.
THE COMMISSIONER SAID THAT IN LABOUR LEGISLATION, IT WAS NECESSARY TO STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN THE CLAIMS OF EMPLOYEES THE ABILITY OF EMPLOYERS TO MEET THOSE CLAIMS, AND THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.
+1 BELIEVE THAT IN THE LABOUR RELATIONS BILL A FAIR BALANCE HAS BEEN STRUCK BETWEEN THESE THREE FACTORS,+ MR. PRICE SAID.
+ ALSO BELIEVE THAT THE BILL WILL ACHIEVE ITS OBJECTIVE OF IMPROVING LABOUR-MANAGEMENT RELATIONS AND WILL HELP TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG CONTINUES TO ENJOY IN THE FUTURE A LOW LEVEL OF INDUSTRIAL UNREST.
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