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WEDNESDAY, JULY 12, 1989
OF
HE RECALLED THAT WHEN THE PROTECTION
WAGES ON INSOLVENCY ORDINANCE CAME INTO EFFECT IN APRIL 1985, IT ONLY PROVIDED FOR PAYMENT OF WAGES IN ARREARS ON THE INSOLVENCY OF EMPLOYERS. EMPLOYEES MIGHT SEEK PAYMENT FROM THE FUND OF AN AMOUNT UP TO FOUR MONTHS' WAGES BUT NOT EXCEEDING $8,000.
IN JULY 1987, THE FUND WAS EXTENDED TO COVER SEVEN DAYS' WAGES IN LIEU OF NOTICE OR AN AMOUNT NOT EXCEEDING $2,000,
HE WELCOMED THE BILL WHICH WOULD GIVE ADDED PROTECTION то
EMPLOYEES.
AFTER THE EXTENSION TO COVER SEVERANCE PAYMENT, THE FUND'S CURRENT MAXIMUM LIMIT OF PAYMENT PER APPLICANT WOULD AMOUNT TO $14,000, INCLUSIVE OF $8,000 AS ARREARS OF WAGES, $2,000 AS WAGES IN LIEU OF NOTICE AND $4,000 AS SEVERANCE PAYMENT.
FREEZE ON EXISTING DEVELOPMENT DENSITY NECESSARY
A FREEZE ON THE EXISTING DEVELOPMENT DENSITY IN MANY AREAS OF KOWLOON AFFECTED BY A RELAXATION OF EXISTING AIRPORT HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS (AHR) WAS NECESSARY TO AVOID UNACCEPTABLE STRAIN ON THE ALREADY OVERLOADED INFRASTRUCTURE IN THESE AREAS, THE HON CHENG HON-KWAN SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
SPEAKING IN THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE TEMPORARY CONTROL OF DENSITY OF BUILDING DEVELOPMENT (KOWLOON) BILL 1989, MR CHENG, THE CONVENER OF AN AD HOC GROUP FORMED TO SCRUTINISE THE BILL, SAID IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PHASE II REVIEW BY THE CIVIL AVIATION DEPARTMENT ON THE AHR WOULD LEAD ΤΟ A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN EXISTING PLOT RATIO.
HE NOTED THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE AREAS WITH RELAXED AHR TO THEIR MAXIMUM PERMITTED DENSITY UNDER THE NEW AHR WOULD PUT SEVERE STRAIN ON THE EXISTING AND PLANNED INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITY FACILITIES.
ALSO, IT WOULD BE UNLIKELY THAT LAND WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW ROADS AND OTHER FACILITIES TO CATER FOR THE ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT DENSITY THAT THE RELAXED AHR WOULD PERMIT, HE ADDED.
MR CHENG SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS HIGHLY CONCERNED THAT THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN PLOT RATIO ARISING FROM THE RELAXED AHR WOULD GIVE DEVELOPERS A SIGNIFICANT INCENTIVE TO DEVELOP OR REDEVELOP ΤΟ THE MAXIMUM PERMITTED DENSITY, THUS CAUSING UNACCEPTABLE STRAIN ON THE ALREADY OVERLOADED INFRASTRUCTURE IN KOWLOON AND NEW KOWLOON.
"ALTHOUGH IT