XN000022-1976-11-24 — Page 8

- 7

FACILITIES FOR LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES

*****

THE HON. ALEX WU TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY THAT BEFORE FURTHER LABOUR LEGISLATION WAS INTRODUCED, THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD REVIEW AND REASSESS THE PRIORITIES IN PROVIDING FACILITIES FOR LEISURE TIME ACTIVITIES TO ENSURE THAT WORKERS AND THE IR FAMILIES WOULD IN FUTURE BE ABLE TO ENJOY THEIR FREE TIME TO THE FULL AND AT REASONABLE COST.

SPEAKING ON THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) (NO.2) BILL 1976, WHICH AIMS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF REST DAYS FOR WORKERS IN A YEAR FROM 48 TO 52, HE SAID: THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT OVERLOOK THE REQUIREMENT TO IMPROVE THE HOME ENVIRONMENT OF OUR WORKERS, SINCE MANY IN THE UPPER AGE BRACKET MAY WELL PREFER TO SPEND THEIR LEISURE TIME AT HOME.+

HOWEVER, MR. WU WENT ON, FOR THOSE WHO MIGHT WANT TO MAKE THE MAXIMUM USE OF INCREASED LEISURE HOURS, RECREATIONAL PROGRAMMES MUST BE CAREFULLY PLANNED, PREPARED AND EXECUTED.

+ THE IR POTENTIAL VALUE TO THE LABOUR FORCE

PARTICULARLY

THE YOUNGER ELEMENT WHICH FORMS SUCH A VERY LARGE PART OF IT MUST BE REALISTICALLY ASSESSED, HE SAID.

MR. WU MAINTAINED THAT THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATE AND BALANCED RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, PARTICULARLY IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, WAS AS MUCH A PART OF SOCIAL PROGRESS AS WAS THE PROVISION OF TIME TO ENJOY THEM. THIS WAS A VERY REAL PROBLEM, HE EMPHASISED.

+THE LEGISLATION WE ARE NOW CONSIDERING WILL QUITE CLEARLY HAVE ITS GREATEST EFFECT ON PEOPLE LIVING IN THE GROWING INDUSTRIAL TOWNS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES,+ HE SAID. +ONE NEEDS ONLY TO EXAMINE THE SPORTING FACILITIES AVAILABLE IN HUGE TOWNS LIKE TSUEN WAN AND KWAI CHUNG TO SEE THE IMBALANCE OF THE SITUATION. +

+THE SAME CAN BE SAID OF THE PROVISION FOR OTHER LEISURE PURSUITS, UNTIL NOW LIBRARY FACILITIES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAVE BEEN GROSSLY INADEQUATE. HE ADDED.

MUN,

MR. WU STRESSED THAT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF LIBRARIES IN TUEN TAI PO AND YUEN LONG MUST NOW PROCEED AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

THE GOVERNMENT, HE SAID, MUST ENSURE THAT THE FACILITIES AND AMENITIES PROVIDED WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO THE EMERGENCE OF A NEW TYPE OF INDIVIDUAL, MORE CONSCIOUS OF HIS CIVIC DUTIES.

+ALL THIS IS PART OF THE VISION, AS EXPRESSED BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, OF A SOCIETY IN WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL WILL BE ABLE TO DEVELOP HIS OR HER PERSONALITY TO THE FULL, HE SA ID.

ANOTHER UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, THE HON. LEUNG TAT-SHING, SPEAKING IN SUPPORT OF THE BILL, SAID THAT THE FOUR EXTRA REST DAYS IN A YEAR COINCIDED WITH THE INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED PRACTICE OF PROVIDING ONE REST DAY A WEEK, EXCLUSIVE OF ANY STATUTORY HOLIDAY.

+SUCH PRACTICE AND SUCH PROVISION, HE ADDED, +ARE OF LONG-STANDING AND IT IS ONLY APPROPRIATE FOR US TO FALL IN LINE WITH THE MODERN TRENDS OF UP-HOLDING HUMAN RIGHTS AND PROMOTING WORKERS' BENEFITS.+

18..