XN000022-1973-02-07 — Page 3

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Wednesday, February 7, 1973

"But," Mr. Tsui continued, "Where a breach of a provision

of the Employment Ordinance is discovered by an officer of the Service

concerning payment of wages and other sums due under a contract of

employment, he warns the offending party and seeks an early remedy in

the interests of the aggrieved party.

"At the same time, the officer advises the aggrieved party on

what legal steps it may take in default of a settlement."

During the year, an employer in the woollen knitting industry

was prosecuted by the Labour Department under the Employment Ordinance for

continuing the contracts of employment of his workers without believing on

reasonable grounds that he would be able to pay all wages earned by the

workers.

Prosecuted

The directors of limited liability restaurant in liquidation werc

prosecuted under the same ordinance for failure to pay wages due to employees

within the statutory limit of seven days.

In both cases a further ground for prosecution was that the

employer had contravened the provisions of the ordinance wilfully and

without reasonable excuse.

Mr. Taul advised employers that in the interests of harmonious

labour relations, they should familiarise themselves with the Employment

Ordinance. In particular, they should familiarise themselves with those

provisions concerning payment of wages because under present living conditions

workers cannot afford to have payment of wages delayed.

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