XN000022-1976-10-06 — Page 17

16

-

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1976

NEW MEASURES TO IMPROVE EMPLOYMENT

AND WORKING CONDITIONS

*****

THE GOVERNMENT WILL INTRODUCE IN THE CURRENT SESSION FURTHER MEASURES TO IMPROVE LEGISLATION GOVERNING EMPLOYMENT AND WORKING CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG, THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE SAID IN HIS CPENING ADDRESS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

AFTER OUTLINING A NUMBER OF NEW LEGISLATIONS AND AMENDMENTS THAT WERE ENACTED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN

THE LAST SESSION, THE GOVERNOR SAID: IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THIS LEGISLATIVE PROGRAMME SHOULD CONTINUE.+

HE REVEALED THAT AMENDMENTS TO THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE WILL BE INTRODUCED TO PROVIDE FOR ONE WEEK'S HOLIDAY WITH PAY FROM 1978 AND FOR ONE REST DAY A WEEK (INSTEAD OF FOUR

A MONTH) NEXT YEAR, AND FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN SEVERANCE PAY AND SICKNESS BENEFITS.

OTHER PLANS IN THE PROGRAMME INCLUDE:

*

*

IMPROVEMENTS IN SEVERANCE PAY AND SICKNESS BENEFITS, COMPENSATION SCHEME FOR WORKERS SUFFERING FROM SILICOSIS AND ASBESTOSIS,

* A DETAILED REVIEW OF THE WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION

*

ORDINANCE AND,

FURTHER LEGISLATION AND LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE GREATER PROTECTION OF WAGES IN THE CASE OF BANKRUPTCY OR LIQUIDATION,

+ IT IS IMPORTANT, SIR MURRAY SAID THAT IN THIS FIELD OF LABOUR LEGISLATION TOO WE SHOULD HAVE A CLEAR IDEA OF WHAT OUR OBJECTIVES ARE.+

+YOUR GOVERNMENT HAS CONCLUDED THAT WE SHOULD SET OURSELVES THE TARGET ACHIEVING A LEVEL OF LEGISLATION GOVERNING SAFETY, HEALTH AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AT LEAST BROADLY EQUIVALENT TO THE BEST IN OUR NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES WHOSE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL AND CULTURAL BACKGROUND ARE SIMILAR TO OUR OWN, WHICH IN EFFECT MEANS OUR PRINCIPAL ASIAN COMPETITORS EXCLUDING JAPAN,+ HE POINTED OUT.

ADMITTING THAT HONG KONG WORKERS' INCOMES WERE HIGHER THAN THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES, THE GOVERNOR SAID HE DID NOT BELIEVE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL WOULD BELIEVE IT RIGHT THAT ON THIS ACCOUNT HONG KONG SHOULD AIM AT PROVIDING ITS PEOPLE WITH LESS PROTECTION.

+NOR COULD WE DEFEND A LOWER TARGET INTERNATIONALLY OR AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THE SORT OF SOCIETY WE ARE TRYING TO BUILD, HE EMPHASISED,

/+THIS IS