XN000022-1974-12-18 — Page 5

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1974

+THEREFORE, OVERTIME MUST BE ALLOWED FLEXIBLY AND WITH MINIMUM OF RED TAPE IF MANUFACTURING IS NOT TO BE UNDULY RESTRICTED AND HONG KONG PRODUCTS ARE TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE ON WORLD MARKETS.+

HE CALLED ON THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR TO FIND OUT WHY BOTH WOMEN AND MEN IN SINGAPORE ARE ALLOWED A MAXIMUM OF 48 HOURS OVERTIME A MONTH DESPITE A STRONG AND WELL-ORGANIZED TRADE UNION MOVEMENT THERE. THE FINDINGS, HE SUGGESTED, SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD.

COMMENTING ON THE REGULATIONS, THE HON. MRS. JOYCE SYMONS SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD TAKEN THE RIGHT STEP IN INTRODUCING THE LEGISLATION.

WHILE SHE WAS AWARE OF THE CONTROVERSIAL NATURE OF THIS TYPE OF LIMITATION ON OVERTIME, SHE FELT QUITE STRONGLY THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD LEGISLATE IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY AT LARGE.

+FREEDOM OF WORK IS ENJOYED IN OUR COMMUNITY BUT FREEDOM MUST NOT LEAD TO EXCESS.

+THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF WOMEN AND YOUNG PEOPLE MUST ALWAYS BE IN THE FOREFRONT OF GOVERNMENT POLICY AND IN THIS

INSTANCE | FEEL GOVERNMENT HAVE TAKEN THE RIGHT STEP,+ SHE STRESSED.

IN REPLY, MR. PRICE POINTED OUT THAT THE DOCUMENT QUOTED BY SENIOR UNOFFICIAL MEMBER DR. S.Y. CHUNG IN MAKING SOME CRITICISMS OF NEW REGULATIONS HAD BEEN SUPERSEDED.

MR. PRICE SAID THE MORE UP-TO-DATE CONSULTATIVE DOCUMENT, KNOWN AS +EQUALITY FOR WOMEN+ AND ISSUED IN SEPTEMBER, 1974 MADE IT CLEAR THAT PROTECTIVE MEASURES FOR WOMEN CONTAINED IN THE U.K. FACTORIES ACT SHOULD BE RETAINED FOR THE PRESENT AT LEAST.

+ SHOULD ADD THAT THE CHANGE IN ATTITUDE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM WAS BROUGHT ABOUT BECAUSE OF CONSIDERABLE CRITICISM THAT THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL TO LIFT PROTECTIVE MEASURES MIGHT PLACE UNDUE PRESSURE ON WORKING WOMEN,+ HE SAID.

+ALSO, TO PUT THE RECORD STRAIGHT, I SHOULD MAKE IT CLEAR THAT IN THE UNITED KINGDOM OVERTIME FOR WOMEN IS LIMITED TO 100 HOURS A YEAR, AND NOT TO 200 HOURS A YEAR AS PROPOSED FOR HONG KONG, IT IS EVIDENT THAT U.K. LEGISLATION HAS NOT BEEN TRANSPLANTED WHOLESALE TO HONG KONG.+

MR. PRICE ADDED THAT HE HAD PUT IN HAND AN EXAMINATION OF THE PROCEDURES FOR DEALING WITH APPLICATIONS FOR SPECIAL PERMISSION TO EXCEED THE NEW OVERTIME LIMITS SO THAT THEY COULD BE FLEXIBLY AND QUICKLY APPLIED.

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