WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1976
INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) REGULATIONS APPROVED *****
THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY APPROVED THE INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) (NO. 3) REGULATIONS 1976 WHICH SEEK TO REDUCE AND EVENTUALLY ABOLISH OVERTIME FOR YOUNG WORKERS.
OF THE TEN UNOFFICIALS TAKING PART IN THE DEBATE, SEVEN SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE PROPOSED REGULATIONS AND THREE AGAINST.
SUPPORTING THE REGULATIONS WERE DR. THE HON. S.Y. CHUNG, THE HON. MISS KO STU-WAH, THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN, REV. THE HON. PATRICK MCGOVERN, THE HON. T.S. LO, DR. THE HON. HENRY HU AND THE HON. LEUNG TAT-SHING.
THE THREE WHO OPPOSED THEM WERE THE HON. JAMES WU, THE HON. FRANCIS TIEN AND THE HON. S.L. CHEN.
SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE REGULATIONS, MISS KO SAID THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT WAS INSEPARABLE AND WHILE THE GOVERNMENT WAS PROPOSING THE ABOLITION OF OVERTIME FOR YOUNG PERSONS IN INDUSTRY, IT MUST CAREFULLY CONSIDER THE SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES TO COPE WITH THESE CHANGES,
SHE STATED THAT THE GIVING OF MORE LEISURE TO YOUNG PEOPLE WOULD NOT NECESSARILY DO ALL OF THEM A LOT OF GOOD BECAUSE OF THE SHORTAGE OF FACILITIES.
+ IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT YOUNG WORKERS OF 16 AND 17 WHO ARE AT AN IMPORTANT STAGE OF THEIR PHYSICAL, MENTAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE THEIR INCREASED LEISURE TIME PRODUCTIVELY, SHE SAID. FACILITIES FOR EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES ESPECIALLY EVENING SCHOOLS, YOUTH PROGRAMMES, COUNSELLING SERVICE, SPORTS AND OTHER RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES SHOULD BE IMPROVED AND EXPANDED.+
HOWEVER, SHE WARNED, HONG KONG MUST NOT BLINDLY FOLLOW THE WHOLE OF THE LABOUR LEGISLATION OF OTHER COUNTRIES WHOSE TYPE AND LEVEL OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT VARIES FROM OURS.
MR. HILTON CHEONG-LEEN SAID IT WAS HIS BELIEF THAT AS A WHOLE THE COUNCIL HAD AN ENLIGHTENED AND PROGRESSIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS SOCIAL REFORM, AND EXPECTED THAT CHANGES IN SUCH DIRECTION OUGHT TO BE +CONSISTENT, MEASURED AND PRAGMATIC.+
+ SPOKE ON THIS SUBJECT DURING THE LAST LEGISLATIVE SESSION, AND AGAIN EMPHASISE THE NEED FOR MORE CO-ORDINATION, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOUNG PERSONS AGED 16 AND 17 WILL BY 1980 BE UNABLE BY LAW TO WORK OVERTIME IN REGISTERED FACTORIES, + HE SAID.
/+FOR YOUNG