XN000022-1976-06-09 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 9, 1976

EXTRA PAID HOLIDAYS FOR WORKERS *****

THE HON. NEIL HENDERSON, ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT THE TIME WAS NOW RIPE FOR THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PAID STATUTORY HOLIDAYS FROM SIX TO TEN.

IN MOVING THE SECOND-READING OF THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, MR. HENDERSON SAID IT WAS PART OF THE CONTINUOUS PROCESS OF REVIEWING, REVISING AND IMPROVING THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE. HE SAID THAT AT THE OPENING OF THE CURRENT SESSION OF THE COUNCIL IT WAS DISCLOSED THAT THE PROPOSAL TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STATUTORY HOLIDAYS WOULD BE STUDIED FURTHER IN THE LIGHT OF THE ECONOMIC SITUATION PREVAILING..

AS THE SITUATION HAD MARKEDLY IMPROVED SINCE THEN, HE FELT THAT THE EXTRA HOLIDAYS SHOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE FROM JANUARY 1, 1977.

THE FOUR NEW HOLIDAYS PROPOSED ARE THE THIRD DAY OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR- THE FIRST WEEK DAY IN JULY OR ALTERNATIVELY THE FIRST MONDAY IN AUGUST THE CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL AND THE CHINESE WINTER SOLSTICE FESTIVAL OR ALTERNATIVELY CHRISTMAS DAY. THEY AFFECT ALL MANUAL WORKERS AND ALL THOSE NON-MANUAL WORKERS EARNING LESS THAN $2,000 A MONTH, WHO ARE COVERED BY THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.

MR. HENDERSON SAID THAT THE PROPOSALS, WHICH AIMED TO BRING HONG KONG MORE IN LINE WITH ITS NEIGHBOURS IN EAST AND SOUTHEAST ASIA, HAS HAD THE FULL SUPPORT OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD AND GENERAL SUPPORT FROM THE EMPLOYERS' ASSOCIATIONS.

MR. HENDERSON POINTED OUT THAT IN SUGGESTING THESE

PARTICULAR HOLIDAYS HE HAD BEEN GUIDED BY THREE CONSIDERATIONS :-

* THAT NEW HOLIDAYS SHOULD CO-INCIDE WITH GENERAL HOLIDAYS

WHERE POSSIBLE-

* THAT GENERALLY SPEAKING EITHER THE HOLIDAY OR ITS

ALTERNATIVE SHOULD BE ONE THAT HAS A TRADITIONAL MEANING. FOR THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION- AND

* THAT THERE WAS SOME ADVANTAGE FOR WORKERS IN TRYING TO. SPACE OUT THE STATUTORY PAID HOLIDAYS FAIRLY EVENLY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR,

MR. HENDERSON SAID CONSULTATIONS WERE HELD WITH THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS AND STAFF OF THE DIRECTORATE OF HOME AFFAIRS.

THE HOLIDAYS