- 4 -
Transcript of press session by Deputy to the Governor
The following is a transcript of a press session by the Deputy to the Governor, Mrs Anson Chan, after presiding at the Open Learning Institute's congregation today (Thursday).
Mrs Chan: Good afternoon everyone. I'd like to say a few words about yesterday's debate in the Legislative Council on the Employment (Amendment) Bill. We very much regret the decision to withdraw this Bill. But we have done so temporarily for further consultation both within the Legislative Council and outside to take it really at the Labour Advisory Board.
This is the second time that we have actually put the amendment Bill before the Legislative Council following the last debate in July, at which members expressed certain views of further improvements. We took this issue back to the LAB and the package that we put yesterday to the Legislative Council was indeed a significant improvement on the further package.
The LAB as you all know is the agreed and well established mechanism for reaching a consensus on issues affecting employers and employees. And over the years, the LAB has played a critical role in maintaining harmonious relationship between the employers and the employees. And we do not believe that we should lightly set aside a consensus reached at the LAB. And that's why in the circumstances prevailing yesterday, we thought it necessary to withdraw the Bill and we would now consult the LAB within this month. Following that I very much hope that we would be in a position to put further proposals reflecting a consensus of the LAB before the Legislative Council.
I think that none of us wish to see this package of improvements to severance payments and long service payments delayed any longer than is
necessary.