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WEDNESDAY, MAY 8, 1991
OF THE THREE BORDER CROSSINGS, MAN KAM TO WAS THE OLDEST AND WELL-ESTABLISHED ROUTE WHICH PROVIDED A DIRECT AND CONVENIENT LINK THE CENTRE OF SHENZHEN CITY.
A
TO
FOR THIS REASON, MANY HONG KONG LORRY DRIVERS PREFERRED TO THIS ROUTE, THE SECRETARY SAID.
USK
CONGESTION AT
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS AWARE OF THE CURRENT
TAKEN MAN KAM TO AND HAD
STEPS IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE CHINESE AUTHORITIES TO RELIEVE THE SITUATION.
FOLLOWING THE OPENING OF LOK MA CHAU CROSSING IN DECEMBER 1989, HAD BEEN DIVERTED ABOUT 1,900 VEHICLES PREVIOUSLY USING MAN KAM TO TO THE NEW CROSSING.
KOK CROSSING, THERE WAS AS REGARDS THE SHA TAU
AN AVERAGE THE DAILY TRAFFIC OF ABOUT 2,000 VEHICLES, WHICH WAS CONSIDERED TO BE OPTIMAL LEVEL FOR THE UTILISATION OF THIS CROSSING, MR LEUNG ADDED.
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GOVT INFORMED IN ADVANCE MERGING DECISION
THE GOVERNMENT WAS INFORMED IN ADVANCE OF THE HONG KONG TELECOM GROUP'S INTENTION ΤΟ MERGE CERTAIN FUNCTIONS IN THE HONG KONG TELEPHONE COMPANY AND HONG KONG TELECOM INTERNATIONAL AND TO MAKE REDUNDANT STAFF CONSIDERED BY THE COMPANIES TO BE IN EXCESS OF OPERATIONAL REQUIREMENTS.
THIS WAS STATED BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR MANPOWER, THE HON CHRISTINE CHOW, IN THE LEGISLATIVE
(WEDNESDAY).
EDUCATION AND COUNCIL TODAY
REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON TAM YIU-CHUNG, MISS CHOW SAID DISCUSSIONS WERE HELD WITH THE GROUP TO ENSURE THAT THE CHANGES WOULD NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT THEIR SERVICES TO THE PUBLIC AND THE GOVERNMENT'S ABILITY TO REGULATE THEIR FRANCHISED ACTIVITIES.
SHE SAID THE GOVERNMENT ALSO OFFERED ADVICE TO THE GROUP ON LABOUR RELATIONS ASPECTS, PARTICULARLY THE DESIRABILITY TO CONSULT EMPLOYEES.
"THE STAFF LEVELS MAINTAINED BY PUBLIC UTILITY COMPANIES ARE ESSENTIALLY A MATTER FOR THE COMPANIES CONCERNED.
"SO LONG AS THEY MEET THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THEIR FRANCHISES, THERE WOULD BE NO GROUNDS FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO INTERFERE IN THIS ASPECT OF COMPANY MANAGEMENT," SHE SAID,
HOWEVER, MISS CHOW
SAID THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT DID PLAY AN ADVISORY AND MONITORING ROLE IN STAFF RETRENCHMENT EXERCISES IN GENERAL.
THE DEPARTMENT ADVISED EMPLOYERS ON HOW TO HANDLE RETRENCHMENTS IN A WAY THAT WOULD MINIMISE THE IMPACT ON THE EMPLOYEES INVOLVED, SHE SAID.
/MISS CHOW