XN000022-1975-05-07 — Page 3

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1975

PROVISIONS OF LABOUR RELATIONS BILL CLARIFIED

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THE NEW LABOUR RELATIONS BILL WILL PROVIDE HONG KONG WITH A FRAMEWORK FOR THE SETTLEMENT OF TRADE DISPUTES WITH THE MINIMUM OF SOCIAL FRICTION OR ECONOMIC DISRUPTION, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON, IAN PRICE, TOLD LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

+THE PROCEDURES IN THE BILL REPRESENT METHODS WELL ESTABLISHED ELSEWHERE,+ HE SAID, +ALTHOUGH FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HONG KONG THEY BRING TOGETHER, IN ONE ORDINANCE, VARIOUS METHODS OF RESOLVING DISPUTES.+

MR. PRICE WAS MOVING THE ADJOURNMENT OF THE SECOND READING OF THE BILL, WHICH WAS GAZETTED FOR PUBLIC COMMENT ON MARCH 21.

HE SAID: BECAUSE NO TWO INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES ARE IDENTICAL, IT IS DESIRABLE TO DEVISE FLEXIBLE PROCEDURES WHICH CAN BE APPLIED TO WIDELY DIFFERENT SITUATIONS.

+SO THE PROCEDURE TO BE ADOPTED IN ANY PARTICULAR DISPUTE WILL DEPEND UPON ITS CIRCUMSTANCES.+

HE SAID THE BILL AIMED TO CATER FOR BOTH THE COMMON SITUATION IN HONG KONG - IN WHICH +AD HOC+ GROUPS OF WORKERS WERE INVOLVED AND ALSO FOR THOSE CASES IN WHICH A UNION WAS A DIRECT PARTY TO A DISPUTE.

+THE PRESENT BILL COVERS BOTH STRIKES AND LOCK-OUTS, AND APPLIES EQUALLY TO EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES,+ HE SAID. +IT SHOULD BE ESPECIALLY HELPFUL TO THOSE WORKERS WHO DO NOT BELONG TO TRADE UNIONS.+

THE COMMISSIONER SAID SOME PEOPLE MIGHT ARGUE THAT THE PROVISIONS OF THE BILL RELATING TO A COMPULSORY COOLING-OFF PERIOD WERE UNDESIRABLE.

BUT THESE PROVISIONS WHICH WOULD ONLY BE IMPLEMENTED IN SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES AND IN CONJUNCTION WITH ARBITRATION OR BOARD OF INQUIRY PROCEDURES WERE NOT AN ATTEMPT ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE AWAY THE RIGHT TO STRIKE.

+THEY ARE AN ATTEMPT TO PROVIDE FOR A FLEXIBLE APPROACH LEADING TO A LESS HEATED ATMOSPHERE, MORE CONDUCIVE TO THE SETTLEMENT OF THE DISPUTE,+ HE SAID.

/INDEED,

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