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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 1993
ON
LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS TO ENHANCE CONSUMER GOODS SAFETY AND CONSUMERS' RIGHTS, HE SAID: "A BILL THAT SEEKS TO ENHANCE CONSUMER GOODS SAFETY IS BEING FINALISED FOR INTRODUCTION INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL BY THE END OF THIS YEAR,"
AS PROPOSED IN THE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT, HE SAID THAT THE COMMISSIONER OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE WAS TO ENFORCE THE LEGISLATION BY CONDUCTING SPOT CHECKS IN ADDITION TO ACTING ON COMPLAINTS.
THREE BILLS ON THE SUPPLY OF GOODS AND SERVICES SEEKING PROTECT CONSUMERS' RIGHTS HAVE ALSO BEEN RELEASED FOR CONSULTATION.
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ALL POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR RETIREMENT PROTECTION UNDER CONSIDERATION
TO
THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR MICHAEL LEUNG, REASSURED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS CONSIDERING ALL POSSIBLE OPTIONS FOR RETIREMENT PROTECTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS DECLARED TIME-TABLE.
HE REFUTED ACCUSATIONS THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS STALLING ON THIS SUBJECT, POINTING OUT THAT THE ISSUES INVOLVED WERE HIGHLY COMPLEX AND DIFFICULT.
SPEAKING DURING THE DEBATE ON THE MOTION OF THANKS IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY), MR LEUNG NOTED THAT THE PUBLIC MIGHT NOT BE ENTIRELY CLEAR ABOUT THE IMPLICATIONS OF A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND (CPF).
FIRST, HE SAID, A CPF WAS NOT SOME KIND OF GOLDMINE FOR WORKERS AS HAD BEEN PRESENTED. IT IS A SYSTEM OF DEDUCTIONS FROM SALARY THROUGHOUT A WORKING LIFE PLUS A CONTRIBUTION FROM EMPLOYERS IN ORDER TO FUND OLD AGE.
"SCHEMES ELSEWHERE TEND TO HAVE CERTAIN FEATURES THAT OUR WORKERS MIGHT NOT REGARD AS DESIRABLE.
"DEDUCTIONS ARE ENFORCED MONTH IN, MONTH OUT. RATES OF RETURN ARE FAR FROM SPECTACULAR BECAUSE THE FUND MUST BE INVESTED WITH THE GREATEST PRUDENCE.
FURTHERMORE, EMPLOYERS ALSO APPEAR TO SEE ADVANTAGES FOR THEMSELVES, WITH SOME SUGGESTING THAT WORKERS WILL BE MORE CLOSELY BOUND TO THEIR COMPANIES.
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"THEY CAN THINK AGAIN. WE HAVE NO INTENTION OF INTRODUCING ANY SCHEME THAT WOULD PENALISE A WORKER FOR CHANGING JOBS, MR LEUNG STATED.
ON INDUSTRIAL SAFETY, MR LEUNG SHARED MEMBERS' CONCERN THAT MORE MUST BE DONE TO TACKLE THE POOR RECORD IN THIS AREA.
APART FROM A SERIES OF LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS IN THE COMING MONTHS AIMED AT RAISING SAFETY STANDARDS IN CONSTRUCTION SITES, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL UNDERTAKE A SPECIAL REVIEW ON THE OPERATION OF THE FACTORY INSPECTORATE TO FURTHER STRENGTHEN ITS EFFICIENCY AND EFFECTIVENESS.
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