XN000022-1975-08-01 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, AUGUST 1, 1975

FOLLOWING PUBLIC COMMENT ON THE BILL, THE FOLLOWING MAJOR AMENDMENTS WERE MADE TO IT DURING ITS PASSAGE THROUGH THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL:

*

THE COOLING-OFF** PERIOD CAN ONLY BE BROUGHT INTO EFFECT BY A FUTURE DECISION OF THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL, AND IF THERE IS A CLEAR AND PUBLICLY-RECOGNISED NEED FOR ITS IMPLEMENTATION=

* DEPENDING ON CIRCUMSTANCES, EITHER A BOARD OF THREE

ARBITRATORS OR THE ORIGINALLY-PROPOSED SINGLE ARBITRATOR CAN BE APPOINTED TO ARBITRATE IN A DISPUTE=

*

AN AMENDMENT HAS BEEN MADE WITH THE AIM OF PREVENTING VICTIMISATION OF WORKERS DURING A COOLING-OFF PERIOD=

* ADDITIONS HAVE BEEN MADE TO THE BILL TO STATE WHO HAS

THE RIGHT OF REPRESENTATION BEFORE BOARDS OF INQUIRY AND ARBITRATION TRIBUNALS AND

* THE SCHEDULE TO THE BILL, WHICH PROPOSED THAT CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE FORMER ILLEGAL STRIKES AND LOCKOUTS ORDINANCE BE INCORPORATED IN OTHER LEGISLATION, HAS BEEN DROPPED.

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WORK ON KOWLOON RECEPTION CENTRE

TO START SOON *******

CONSTRUCTION WORK ON THE SUB-STRUCTURE OF THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT'S LARGEST RECEPTION CENTRE WILL BEGIN IN TWO MONTHS' TIME AT LAI CHI KOK.

:

THE KOWLOON RECEPTION CENTRE, LOCATED ON A 150,000-SQUARE-FOOT SITE AT BUTTERFLY VALLEY ROAD, WILL BE A MAXIMUM SECURITY INSTITUTION CAPABLE OF ACCOMMODATING SOME 980 PRISONERS. IT SHOULD GO A LONG WAY TOWARDS RELIEVING OVERCROWDING IN THE VICTORIA RECEPTION CENTRE ON THE ISLAND.'

THE SITE FOR THE NEW CENTRE WAS ONCE OCCUPIED BY THE FORMER LAI CHI KOK WOMEN'S PRISON WHICH HAS BEEN PULLED DOWN. PART OF THE ADJACENT HILLSIDE HAS ALSO BEEN CUT BACK TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL BUILDING LAND.

SITE FORMATION WORK FOR THE PROJECT IS NOW NEARING COMPLETION AND WORK ON THE SUB-STRUCTURE INCLUDING THAT OF MULTI-STOREY DORMITORY AND CELL BLOCKS, WORKSHOPS, A HOSPITAL WARD, A KITCHEN, AND AN ADMINISTRATION BLOCK AS WELL ÁS QUARTERS FOR RESIDENTIAL STAFF WILL BEGIN IN MID-SEPTEMBER. THIS PART OF THE PROJECT IS EXPECTED TO TAKE SIX MONTHS TO COMPLETE.

TENDERS FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE SUB-STRUCTURE ARE INVITED IN TODAY'S GAZETTE. IT IS HOPED THAT BUILDING OF THE SUPER- STRUCTURE WILL FOLLOW SOON SO THAT WORK ON THE ENTIRE PROJECT CAN DE CARRIED OUT SIMULTANEOUSLY. THE INSTITUTION IS EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN LATE 1977.

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