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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 14, 1903
MR K.C. CHAN SAID HE SUPPORTED THE AMENDMENTS USING THE +HOSPITAL + ELEMENT TO SAFEGUARD ABUSE.
HE NOTED THAT GOOD EMPLOYERS ALSO SUPPORTED THE 120 DAYS BUT VOICED SOME CONCERN ON SAFEGUARDING ABUSE.
+AFTER ALL, IT IS THE EMPLOYERS WHO FOOT THE BILL. IT IS THEREFORE IMPORTANT THAT WHEN WE VENTURE INTO SOMETHING NEW IN LABOUR LEGISLATIONS, WE SHOULD TRY TO ALLAY THEIR FEARS FIRST.
+OTHERWISE, THE RESISTANCE FROM EMPLOYERS WOULD HARDEN IF THEY FELT THAT NEW PROPOSALS ARE RAMMED DOWN THEIR THROAT.
+THIS IN THE END WOULD HINDER THE PROGRESS IN IMPROVING BENEFITS FOR EMPLOYEES IN THE FUTURE, HE SAID.
MR STEPHEN CHEONG DESCRIBED THE BILL AS A VERY BALANCED PIECE OF LEGISLATION+ AND SAID THAT ITS PASSAGE WOULD MAKE ANOTHER STEP FORWARD IN THE PROGRESS OF OUR SOCIETY.
HE SAID, +SOME MIGHT DRAW THE CONCLUSION THAT THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS IN THE COMMITTEE STAGE WERE THE RESULT OF EMPLOYERS' LOBBY.
+THIS DOES NOT REALLY GIVE JUSTICE TO MEMBERS WHOSE DELIBERATIONS ON THIS BILL HAVE BEEN BOTH EXTENSIVE AND THOROUGH.
+WE MUST NOT LOOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THE SPIRIT OF THE BILL HAS NOT BEEN WATERED DOWN AT ALL BY ANY OF THE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS.+
MRS SELINA CHOW SAID THE MEMBERS OF THE AD HOC GROUP SUPPORTED THE SPIRIT OF THE BILL.
SHE SAID THAT THE JUMP FROM 36 TO 120 DAYS, THOUGH QUITE SUBSTANTIAL, WAS CONSIDERED REASONABLE AND SUCH EXTENSION WAS REGARDED AS PARTICULARLY NECESSARY FOR SERIOUS OR PROLONGED ILLNESSES.
SHE POINTED OUT THAT AS THE AMENDED BILL STANDS, OUT-PATIENTS OF HOSPITALS WOULD QUALIFY FOR ALLOWANCES TO WHICH THEY ARE ENTITLED SO LONG AS THEY CAN OBTAIN THE NECESSARY MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.
+THIS MIGHT MEAN THAT INSTEAD OF PROTECTING THE EMPLOYEES WHO SUFFER FROM SERIOUS ILLNESSES, WE ARE ALLOWING THE POSSIBILITY OF MORE CASUAL SICK LEAVE FOR SUCH MINOR INDISPOSITION AS THE COMMON COLD TO INCREASE.
+THIS IS NOT A MATTER OF ABUSE, BUT MORE A MATTER OF WHERE TO DRAW THE LINE, AND IT IS UP TO EMPLOYEES TO GUARD AGAINST THE RELAXATION OF SELF-DISCIPLINE, WHICH COULD UNDERMINE PRODUCTIVITY AND EFFICIENCY HITHERTO CHARACTERISTIC OF OUR WORK FORCE,+ MRS CHOW SAID.
DR THE HON HENRIETTA IP SAID THE BILL ALLOWED AN ILL WORKER WHOSE FAMILY'S LIVELIHOOD DEPENDED ON HIS INCOME, TO RECOVER FROM HIS ILLNESS WITHOUT THE ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL BURDEN OF LOSS OF
INCOME.
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