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.9.
"The principal contractors are also asked to ensure that their sub-contractors strictly observe the rules and conditions laid down in the contracts signed with the workers, because they as the principal contractors will be held liable for the breach of the scheme by their sub-contractors," Mr Wong said.
A meeting was convened by Mr Wong this morning (Tuesday) with the Chief Executives Officer of the PAA, Mr Henry Townsend; the Project Director of the MTRC, Mr Russell Black; and the Director of the New Airport Projects Co-ordination Office, Mr Billy Lam; and their senior officers.
All sides have agreed to further their co-operation in the administration of the special scheme for the new airport related projects to tackle any possible abuses.
At a press session after the meeting, Mr Wong stressed that all imported workers working in Hong Kong had the full protection under the laws of Hong Kong.
"The Government will not tolerate any abuse of the scheme and will prosecute those employers who have violated the provisions of the Employment Ordinance, such as unlawful deduction of wages and failure to grant statutory holidays.
"We will maintain a record of contractors who have been established to have abused the scheme and their applications for importing labour will not be considered," Mr Wong said.
At the meeting, Mr Wong told the representatives of PAA and MTRC that employers were required to provide adequate accommodation for imported workers. To further safeguard the interest of the imported workers, the Labour Department will inspect the accommodation arrangement for workers before visas are issued by the Immigration Department.
"Those contractors who failed to compile with the accommodation requirement have been asked to take remedial measures as soon as possible," Mr Wong said.
"The special scheme is very important to the timely completion of the New Airport and its related projects. We will continue to uphold the integrity of the scheme and to ensure that the imported workers are given what they are entitled to," he said.
As a continued drive to help imported workers understand their rights and benefits, the Labour Department carries out on-site briefings for all imported workers. Contractors have also been asked to provide full briefings to them on arrival and the Labour Department will introduce a four-language (Cantonese, Putonghua, English and Thai) interactive voice phone system from tomorrow,
Information posters will also be put up at easily accessible locations at the sites.
End/Tuesday, November 28, 1995
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