- 31-
(d)
(e)
Sitting dates for deputy judges (and recorders in the future) are normally arranged a few months in advance.
Since July 1994, the Judiciary has kept a list of barristers in private practice who are prepared to sit as deputy judges of the High Court at short notice. So far two barristers from the list have been invited to take up cases just a few days in advance and both accepted these urgent appointments.
End/Wednesday, March 22, 1995
Wage ceiling
Following is a question by the Hon Lee Cheuk-yan and a written reply by the Secretary for Education and Man Power, Mr Michael Leung, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Will the Government inform this Council whether it will review and raise the wage ceiling of $15,000 for the purpose of determining the severance payment, long service payment and compensation for injuries at work as stipulated in the Employment Ordinance and the Employees' Compensation Ordinance; if so, whether it will propose amendments to these two Ordinances within the current legislative session; if not, why not?
Answer:
The wage ceiling for the calculation of severance payment and long service payment under the Employment Ordinance is now being reviewed. Subject to the advice of the Labour Advisory Board (LAB) on the issue, we plan to introduce the relevant amendments to the Employment Ordinance into the Legislative Council as soon as practicable.
As regards the calculation of compensation payments under the Employees' Compensation Ordinance, the levels of payments for different compensation items are governed by different factors, and wage movements is just one of them. The wage level should therefore be considered in the context of the regular annual review on the levels of all the various compensation items for injuries at work under the Employees Compensation Ordinance The LAB will be consulted later in the year and subject to its advice, we hope to effect appropriate changes through a Legco resolution by the end of the year so that the new levels of compensation can come into effect in early 1996.
End/Wednesday, March 22, 1995