XN000022-1974-10-16 — Page 62

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Wednesday, October 16, 1974

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it is particularly in this area that a real improvement has

been made.

With regard to the coming session, Regulations will

be submitted to this Council to reduce the maximum permissible

overtime for women and young persons. We have in mind, a

reduction from 300 to 250 hours a year from the beginning of

next year, and a further reduction to 200 hours in 1976.

I mentioned in this Council last year that the Labour.

Tribunal, which was introduced on 1st March 1973, had proved.

an immediate success. I am pleased to say that this initial

success has been sustained, and this year a second tribunal

has been established and the Labour Tribunal Ordinance, which

had only a limited life, has been made permanent. However

the jurisdiction of the Tribunal is limited to individual claims

for sums of money arising from a contract of employment. But

it is not concerned with group disputes or collective bargaining

- with management. During the coming session your Government

hopes to introduce for your consideration a new Labour Relations

Bill. This bill is designed to provide statutory backing for

the Labour Relations Service of the Labour Department and for.

procedures to be followed in a labour dispute when conciliation

has failed. Labour relations have traditionally been good. in :

Hong Kong. But, it is hoped that this bill will help to

facilitate settlements when other means have failed. As now

conceived it deliberately avoids provision of powers to impose

compulsory settlements. Perhaps Hon. Members will agree that

elsewhere such compulsory powers have proved conspicuously

ineffective,

The promotion