WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1980
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THE REASON FOR THE EXCLUSION WAS THAT AT THAT TIME SUCH AGENCIES WERE GENERALLY OPERATING ON A SMALL SCALE, MOST UNDER STAIRCASES OR ON THE ROADSIDE NEAR MARKETS, WITH NO PROPERLY
IDENTIFIABLE PREMISES. FURTHERMORE, LOCAL DOMESTIC SERVANTS WERE IN SUCH SHORT SUPPLY THAT THERE WAS LITTLE LIKELIHOOD OF THE IR BEING EXPLOITED BY THE AGENCIES.
HOWEVER, THE SITUATION HAD NOW CHANGED DUE TO AN INFLUX OF DOMESTIC HELPERS FROM OVERSEAS, MAINLY FROM THE PHILIPPINES, THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NUMBER OF AGENCIES DEALING SPECIFICALLY WITH FILIPINO DOMESTIC HELPERS AND THE RISE OF MALPRACTICES.
+ IT IS THEREFORE FELT THAT FEE-CHARGING EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES DEALING SOLELY WITH DOMESTIC SERVANTS SHOULD NO LONGER BE EXCLUDED FROM THE AMBIT OF PART XII OF THE ORDINANCE, MR HENDERSON SAID.
THE COMMISSIONER ALSO SAID HE PROPOSED TO ALLOW A PERIOD OF THREE MONTHS BEFORE BRINGING THE LEGISLATION INTO OPERATION ON JULY 1, 1980 TO GIVE EMPLOYERS AND OPERATORS OF EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES SUFFICIENT TIME TO MAKE ANY NECESSARY OPERATIONAL ADJUSTMENTS TO COMPLY WITH THE CHANGES IN THE LAW.
MR HENDERSON ALSO MOVED THE SECOND READING OF THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980 WHICH CONTAINS A NUMBER OF CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS MADE NECESSARY AS A RESULT OF THE TRANSFER OF THE PROVISIONS.
PERMANENT USES FOR TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA SITES
*****
THE GOVERNMENT REGULARLY EXAMINES THE POSSIBILITY OF RE-ZONING EXISTING TEMPORARY HOUSING AREA SITES IN ITS CONTINUING SEARCH FOR SITES FOR THE HOUSING PROGRAMME, THE SECRETARY FOR HOUSING, THE HON ALAN SCOTT SAID TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.
REPLYING TO A QUESTION FROM DR THE HON HENRY HU, MR SCOTT ALSO POINTED OUT THAT THERE WERE 47 TEMPORARY HOUSING AREAS, OCCUPYING ABOUT 300 ACRES OF TEMPORARILY ALLOCATED LAND ZONĚD FOR VARIOUS EVENTUAL PERMANENT USES.
+THE PERMANENT USES INCLUDE INDUSTRIAL PURPOSES, DISTRICT OR LOCAL OPEN SPACE, SWIMMING POOLS, SECONDARY SCHOOLS, HOSPITALS AND OTHER COMMUNITY USES,+ HE EXPLAINED.
SOME WERE ZONED FOR PERMANENT HOUSING, INCLUDING A SITE AT AP LE CHAU TO BE CLEARED SHORTLY FOR A PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE, ONE AT TAI PO FOR ANOTHER ESTATE TO BE BUILT IN 1985, AND ONE AT CHAI WAN WHICH WOULD LATER THIS YEAR MAKE WAY FOR A HOME OWNERSHIP SCHEME PROJECT.
HOWEVER, HE REGRETTED THAT IT WAS UNLIKELY THAT ANY MORE SUCH SITES COULD BE REZONED FOR HOUSING ESTATES.
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