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Employment (Amendment) Bill goes through three readings
Following is the speech by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Michael Leung, in moving that the second reading debate on the Employment (Amendment) Bill 1995 should not be adjourned in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Mr President,
I move under Standing Order 42(3A) that the second reading debate on this Bill shall not be adjourned and the debate be proceeded with now.
I am moving this motion to enable the above Bill to be passed in one single sitting today, so that all the improvements we have proposed for the provisions of Severance Payment and Long Service Payment, as well as the clarifications of the provisions for maternity leave and medical certificates under this Bill can take effect as soon as possible. The Labour Advisory Board, the Manpower Panel of this Council and representatives of the political parties whom I met in the last couple of weeks all expressed an earnest wish, which I also fully share, for the speedy enactment of the Bill.
I therefore propose that the three readings of the Bill should be taken in one sitting today to enable eligible workers to benefit from these proposals without any further delay. I commend this Bill to Members for passage in one sitting.
Thank you, Mr President.
End/Wednesday, January 18, 1995
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