WEDNESDAY, JUNE 15, 1977
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THEY FAVOURED, AS AN INTERIM MEASURE, A COMPROMISE SOLUTION ALLOWING MORE FLEXIBILITY REGARDING THE MANNER BY WHICH THE ANNUAL LEAVE MAY BE TAKEN, ALTHOUGH A FEW WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION PASSED INTO LAW WITHOUT DELAY.
THE PRINCIPLE OF THE BILL, HE SAID, WAS FULLY SUPPORTED BY ALL THE UNOFFICIALS. HE EMPHASIZED THAT THEY +FULLY SUBSCRIBE TO THE VIEW THAT EVENTUALLY THE FULL OBJECTIVES OF THE BILL WILL HAVE TO BE ACHIEVED.+
SIX OTHER UNOFFICIALS ALSO SPOKE ON THE BILL.
THE HON. ALEX WU SUGGESTED THAT ITS PROVISIONS COULD BE EXTENDED +TO ENABLE THE COMMISSIONER'S INSPECTORS TO CHECK WHETHER ANOTHER EMPLOYER IS DEFEATING THE OBJECT OF THE LEGISLATION BY EMPLOYING WORKERS DURING THEIR HOLIDAY PERIODS.+
+ IT SEEMS TO ME THAT IF WE ARE DETERMINED TO ENSURE THAT WORKERS BENEFIT FROM A HOLIDAY WE MUST GO THE WHOLE DISTANCE,+ HE SAID.
HE POINTED OUT THE NECESSITY FOR CAREFULLY PLANNED, PREPARED AND EXECUTED RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMES.
+ IF ADEQUATE RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, IN THE WIDEST SENSE OF THE TERM, EXISTED THEN THE PROBLEM OF ENFORCEMENT WOULD NOT ARISE. WORKERS WOULD WELCOME AN OPPORTUNITY TO REST FROM WORK BECAUSE THERE WOULD BE MANY AND VARIED OUTLETS AVAILABLE TO THEM, HE SAID.
THE HON. S.L. CHEN ALSO DREW ATTENTION TO THE NEED FOR ADEQUATE RECREATION FACILITIES AND FOR ENSURING THAT THE HOLIDAYS ARE GENUINELY SPENT.
HE PROPOSED THAT DURING AN INITIAL PERIOD OF FIVE YEARS. EMPLOYEES SHOULD BE GIVEN THE FREEDOM TO TAKE THEIR LEAVE CONSECUTIVELY OR OTHERWISE,
+DURING THIS PERIOD, HE SAID, GOVERNMENT MUST TAKE STEPS TO DEVELOP, WITH PARTICIPATION OF PRIVATE BUSINESS SECTORS, IF NECESSARY, ADEQUATE RECREATIONAL AND REST FACILITIES WHICH WOULD BE NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE FULL AND MEANINGFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION.+
MR. CHEN SAID THE BILL DID NOT HAVE PROVISION WHICH WOULD PROHIBIT WORKERS TO TAKE UP GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT ON THE SEVEN CONSECUTIVE DAYS' HOLIDAY.
+ FULLY APPRECIATE THAT SUCH A PROVISION MIGHT BE DIFFICULT TO ENFORCE, BUT THIS SHOULD NOT BE A REASON FOR NOT HAVING THE PROVISION,+ HE SAID.
REV. THE HON. PATRICK MCGOVERN SAID THE GOVERNMENT, +HOWEVER BELATEDLY, HAS OVERCOME ITS OUTMODED LAISSEZ-FAIRE ATTITUDE AND MADE IN THIS BILL A POSITIVE STEP FORWARD TO HELP WORKERS.+
/HE EXHORTED