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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1975
MORE INDUSTRIAL SAFETY MEASURES ON THE WAY
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ADDITIONAL SAFETY MEASURES WILL BE INTRODUCED TO PROVIDE GREATER PROTECTION FOR INDUSTRIAL WORKERS, THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED
IN HIS REVIEW OF LABOUR MATTERS TODAY.
THE NEW MEASURES INCLUDE REGULATIONS TO PROTECT INDUSTRIAL WORKERS FROM CERTAIN DANGEROUS PROCESSES SUCH AS MANUFACTURING DRY BATTERIES AND USING INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS FOR SPRAYING, AS WELL AS EXTRA SAFETY MEASURES RELATING TO THE USE OF CERTAIN DANGEROUS TOOLS AND GOODS LIFTS IN FACTORIES.
+WITH WORK ABOUT TO START ON THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY SPECIAL REGULATIONS WILL ALSO BE REQUIRED TO ENSURE THE SAFETY AND HEALTH OF WORKERS IN COMPRESSED AIR DURING TUNNELLING OPERATIONS,+ HE SAID.
SIR MURRAY RECOGNISED THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD AN OBLIGATION TO ENSURE THAT HONG KONG'S LADOUR FORCE WAS APPROPRIATELY CARED FOR AND PROTECTED, AND SAID THAT THE LADOUR LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME WOULD BE CARRIED FORWARD IN THE COMING SESSION.
LOOKING BACK AT THE ITEMS OF LEGISLATION THAT WERE PASSED DURING THE LAST SESSION, THE GOVERNOR SAID THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT SHOULD BE THE LABOUR RELATIONS ORDINANCE, WHICH PROVIDES FOR, INTER ALIA, THE IMPOSITION OF A COOLING-OFF PERIOD IF NECESSARY.
THE GOVERNOR NOTED +HONG KONG HAS A GOOD RECORD OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS BUT I BELIEVE THAT IN DEALING WITH ANY DIFFICULTIES THAT DO ARISE, THIS LEGISLATION PROVIDES A FRAMEWORK WITHIN WHICH THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR AND HIS CONCILIATION SERVICES WILL BE ABLE TO PLAY AN EVEN MORE IMPORTANT ROLE,+
+IT ALSO SEES AN END TO THE OLD TRADE DISPUTES ORDINANCE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE ILLEGAL STRIKES AND LOCK-OUTS ORDINANCE WHICH HAVE FOR SO LONG BEEN BOTH UNUSED AND A TARGET OF CRITICISM,+ HE SAID.
HE THEN RECALLED THAT FURTHER AMENDMENTS HAD BEEN MADE IN THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE WHICH MADE IT CLEAR THAT WORKERS WHO WERE LAID OFF IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES VERE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE A SUM EQUIVALENT TO THEIR VAGES FOR THE STATUTORY PERIOD OF THEIR NOTICE.
THE PERMISSIBLE ANNUAL OVERTIME FOR WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS (AGED BETWEEN 16 AND 17) WAS REDUCED FROM JANUARY 1 THIS YEAR FROM 300 TO A MAXIMUM OF 250 HOURS.
/THE GOVERNOR
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