XN000022-1976-07-07 — Page 12

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 7, 1976

FOUR ADDITIONAL STATUTORY HOLIDAYS FOR WORKERS

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A BILL TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF PAID STATUTORY HOLIDAYS FOR WORKERS IN HONG KONG FROM SIX TO. TEN WAS APPROVED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WITH MINOR AMENDMENTS.

THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1976 PROVIDES ALL MANUAL WORKERS AND ALL NON-MANUAL WORKERS EARNING NOT MORE THAN $2,000 A MONTH, WITH FOUR EXTRA PAID HOLIDAYS IN ADDITION TO THE EXISTING SIX TO WHICH THEY ARE ENTITLED.

THE AMENDMENTS GAVE EFFECT TO THE PROPOSAL BY THE HON. S.Y. CHUNG THAT ONE OF THE ADDITIONAL STATUTORY HOLIDAYS SHOULD BE A +FLOATING HOLIDAY+ TO BE DESIGNATED BY EMPLOYERS FOR EACH YEAR.

THIS WAS THE HOLIDAY ORIGINALLY DESIGNATED TO FALL ON THE FIRST WEEK DAY IN JULY OR ALTERNATIVELY THE FIRST MONDAY IN AUGUST.

WITH THE INCORPORATION OF THESE AMENDMENTS, THE NEW STATUTORY HOLIDAYS ARE THE THIRD DAY OF THE LUNAR NEW YEAR THE CHUNG YEUNG FESTIVAL, THE CHINESE WINTER SOLSTICE FESTIVAL OR ALTERNATIVELY, CHRISTMAS DAY, AND THE FLOATING HOLIDAY TO BE DESIGNATED BY EMPLOYERS FOR EACH YEAR. IF THE EMPLOYER DOES NOT DESIGNATE HOLIDAY IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY FALL ON THE FIRST WEEK DAY IN JULY OR THE FIRST MONDAY IN AUGUST.

THIS

BILLS PASSED

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TEN BILLS PASSED THEIR COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY AND BECAME LAW.

THEY WERE THE METRICATION BILL 1976, THE PLACES OF PUBLIC ENTERTAINMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, THE IMMIGRATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, THE ELECTRICITY SUPPLY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, THE WIDOWS AND ORPHANS PENSION (EXEMPTION) BILL 1976, THE COMMISSIONS OF INQUIRY (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, THE ROAD TRAFFIC (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL 1976, THE LANDLORD AND TENANT (CONSOLIDATION) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, AND THE SUPREME COURT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976.

TWO BILLS - THE SECURITIES (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 AND THE MISCELLANEOUS AMENDMENTS (ROAD TRAFFIC) BILL 1976 WERE INTRODUCED FOR FIRST READING.

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