WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13, 1983

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+THESE ALL CONTRIBUTE, TO SOME EXTENT, TO A GREATER RESISTANCE AND RELUCTANCE OF THE PARTIES TO A DISPUTE TO SETTLE THE IR DIFFERENCES BY COMPROMISE AND AGREEMENT, IN OTHER CASES, THE NATURE OF DISPUTE, E.G. INSOLVENCY OF EMPLOYERS, IS SUCH THAT CONCILIATION IN ITSELF COULD NOT BRING ABOUT A SETTLEMENT, + HE ADDED.

HOWEVER, THE REDUCTION IN CASES SETTLED IN THAT MANNER MR HENDERSON CONTINUED, MUST BE SEEN IN ITS PROPER PERSPECTIVE. EVERY CASE OF DISPUTE RECEIVED THE ATTENTION AND ASSISTANCE OF THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE. AND THE RATE OF SETTLEMENT COULD NOT BE TAKEN AS A MEASUREMENT OF THE AMOUNT OF EFFORT AND MANPOWER SPENT ON CONCILIATION, NOR OF THE VALUE OF THE SERVICE BEING RENDERED TO THE PUBLIC.

NEVERTHELESS, HE ASSURED DR HO THAT THE CONCILIATION WORK METHODS OF THE SERVICE WERE CONSTANTLY REVIEWED FOR IMPROVEMENT.

THE DEPARTMENT WAS ALSO CONSIDERING WHETHER EXPERIENCED OFFICERS IN THE LABOUR RELATIONS SERVICE SHOULD BE EMPOWERED, FOR EXAMPLE, TO MAKE RULINGS ON THE BASIS OF THE FACTS OF THE CASE AND DETERMINE THE CLAIM IN MINOR CASES, SUBJECT TO APPEAL.

GOVERNMENT AWARE OF POLLUTION CAUSES

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THE GOVERNMENT WAS AWARE OF THE TYPES OF POLLUTION CAUSED BY SUCH THINGS AS COOKED FOOD STALLS, VEHICLE REPAIR SHOPS, GOVERNMENT INCINERATORS, ELECTRICITY GENERATING STATIONS, AND AIRCRAFT TAKING OFF, THE SCRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

SOME OF THE EXAMPLES GIVEN PRODUCED MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF POLLUTION, HE ADDED.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG, MR BARNES SAID, HOWEVER, THAT IT WAS IMPRACTICABLE TO MONITOR THE PRECISE LEVELS OF POLLUTION IN EVERY CASE ON A PERMANENT BASIS.

COOKED FOOD STALLS, HE EXPLAINED, PRODUCED POLLUTION FROM THE REFUSE GENERATED, AND FROM THE GREASE PRODUCED IN THE COOKING PROCESS: BOTH OF WHICH CONSTITUTED A DISPOSAL PROBLEM.

THEY ALSO PRODUCE SMELLS, BUT THESE WERE NOT A MEASURABLE SOURCE OF AIR POLLUTION. THE FUELS USED, LPG OR KEROSENE, BECAUSE OF THEIR LOW SULPHUR CONTENT, CAUSED ONLY NEGLIGIBLE QUANTITIES OF AIR POLLUTION AND HAVE NOT BEEN THE SUBJECT OF POLLUTION COMPLAINTS.

THROUGHOUT THE TERRITORY THE POLICY IS TO RELOCATE SUCH STALLS IN PROPERLY DESIGNED COOKED FOOD CENTRES WITH ADEQUATE FACILITIES FOR HANDLING THE WASTES WHICH THEY GENERATE.

MEAN! TILE, USD STREET CLEANING TEAMS HAVE INSTRUCTIONS TO PAY SPECIAL A TENTION TO LOCATIONS IN WHICH COOKED FOOD STALLS OPERATE.

/VEHICLE REPAIR

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