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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 1987
*THE DEPARTMENT ALSO CONDUCTED SEVEN LARGE-SCALE OPERATIONAL EXERCISES IN SELECTED SQUATTER AREAS TO FAMILIARISE ITS STAFF WITH FIRE-FIGHTING IN SQUATTER SETTLEMENTS, AND DISTRICT FIRE PREVENTION CAMPAIGNS ARE ALSO CONDUCTED REGULARLY IN EVERY DISTRICT, HE ADDED.
MR LIAO EXPLAINED THAT THE PROBLEM OF ILLEGAL TAPPING OF ELECTRICITY WAS BEING TACKLED ON TWO FRONTS, WITH THE AUTHORITIES STEPPING UP ENFORCEMENT ACTION.
+ON THE EDUCATION FRONT. THE AUTHORITIES AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS CONCERNED HAVE INTENSIFIED THEIR EFFORTS TO EDUCATE RESIDENTS ABOUT THE DANGERS OF TAPPING ELECTRICITY ILLEGALLY AND ADVISE THEM TO APPLY FOR A LEGAL CONNECTION, HE SAID.
+AS A RESULT OF THESE EFFORTS, THIS PROBLEM IS NOW GRADUALLY BEING CONTROLLED. IN 1986, A TOTAL OF 278 PERSONS INVOLVED IN ILLEGAL TAPPING OF ELECTRICITY WERE ARRESTED.
+THIS COMPARES FAVOURABLY WITH THE 573 PERSONS PROSECUTED FOR THE SAME OFFENCE IN 1985, HE SAID.
MR LIAO NOTED THAT THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT'S FIVE-YEAR SQUATTER AREA IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMME WHICH STARTED IN 1983 HAD PROVIDED A CONSIDERABLE NUMBER OF FIRE PREVENTION FACILITIES SUCH AS FIRE BREAKS AND FIRE HYDRANTS IN MAJOR URBAN SQUATTER SETTLEMENTS.
+ALTHOUGH THE PROGRAMME INITIALLY COVERS ONLY SQUATTER AREAS IN THE URBAN AREA AND TSUEN WAN, A NUMBER OF PILOT PROJECTS HAVE ALSO BEEN CONSTRUCTED IN THE RURAL SQUATTER AREAS.
+THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS AT PRESENT CONDUCTING A REVIEW TO CONSIDER WHETHER THE PROGRAMME SHOULD BE CONTINUED AND EXPANDED TO COVER SMALLER SQUATTER AREAS AND THOSE IN THE RURAL AREAS,+ MR LIAO ADDED.
EMPLOYERS NOT AVOIDING MATERNITY LEAVE LIABILITY
*****
ANALYSIS OF COMPLAINTS DEALT WITH BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT ABOUT THE OPERATION OF THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE WHICH PROVIDES FOR PAID MATERNITY LEAVE TO FEMALE EMPLOYEES SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF EXPLOITATION OF THE LEGISLATION BY EMPLOYERS TO AVOID LIABILITY, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI, MR BRIDGE SAID MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS, TOTALLING 129 IN 1986, AROSE FROM MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE PROVISIONS.
/HE POINTED