XN000022-1974-07-17 — Page 22

WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 1974

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WORKERS' RIGHTS TO TRADE UNION MEMBERSHIP

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AN AMENDMENT TO THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, ENTITLED THE EMPLOYMENT CAMENDMENT) (NO. 3) BILL, 1974 WAS INTRODUCED INTO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THE AMENDMENT, WHICH ADDS A NEW PART 11C TO THE ORDINANCE, GIVES LEGISLATIVE EFFECT TO THE PROTECTION OF EMPLOYEES, AS MEMBERS OF TRADE UNIONS, IN RELATION TO THEIR EMPLOYERS.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. PETER WILLIAMS, SAID THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF TRADE UNIONS THEMSELVES WERE FULLY DEALT WITH IN THE TRADE UNIONS ORDINANCE. THE NEW AMENDMENT TO THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE THUS DEALT WITH THE INDIVIDUAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYEE AND DID NOT CONFER ADDITIONAL RIGHTS ON TRADE UNIONS AS SUCH.

+THE BILL GIVES LEGISLATIVE EFFECT TO THE GENERALLY-ACCEPTED PRINCIPLE THAT AN EMPLOYEE HAS THE RIGHT TO JOIN A TRADE UNION AND THAT UNION MEMBERSHIP SHOULD NOT WORK TO HIS DETRIMENT,+ HE EXPLAINED.

HE SAID THE BILL, WHICH WAS SIMILAR TO LEGISLATION APPLY ING THE PROVISIONS OF ILO CONVENTION NO. 98 IN OTHER COUNTRIES, SHOULD ENABLE HONG KONG TO COMPLY WITH THE CONVENTION.

THE DEBATE WAS ADJOURNED.

BILLS PASSED

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EIGHT BILLS PASSED THEIR THIRD AND FINAL READING AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY TO BECOME LAW.

THEY WERE: THE COPYRIGHT CAMENDMENT) BILL 1974, THE MEDICAL REGISTRATION CAMENDMENT) BILL 1974, THE DUTIABLE COMMODITIES CAMENDMENT) BILL 1974, THE PROTECTION OF NON- GOVERNMENT CERTIFICATES OF ORIGIN CAMENDMENT) BILL 1974, THE CORPORAL PUNISHMENT CAMENDMENT) BILL 1974, THE DANGEROUS DRUGS CAMENDMENT) BILL 1974, THE WATERWORKS BILL 1974, AND THE PORT CONTROL (CARGO WORKING AREAS) BILL 1974.

THE WHITE PAPER ON THE FURTHER DEVELOPMENT OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES IN HONG KONG WAS TABLED IN COUNCIL.

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