XN000022-1979-07-29 — Page 5

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SUNDAY, JULY 29, 1979

LABOUR DEPARTMENT TO OPERATE COMPLAINT HOT-LINE

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THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL START OPERATING A +HOT-LINE+ TELEPHONE SERVICE ON WEDNESDAY TO RECEIVE COMPLAINTS ON ILLEGAL OVERTIME WORK BY WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS, AND CHILD EMPLOYMENT IN INDUSTRY,

THE HOT-LINE+, 3-684242, WILL BE OPERATED 24 HOURS A DAY BY THE DEPARTMENT'S WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS UNIT AT ITS KOWLOON REGIONAL OFFICE IN CANTON ROAD.

DISCLOSING THIS TODAY (SUNDAY), A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT RECALLED A STATEMENT MADE BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. NEIL HENDERSON, AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL EARLIER THIS MONTH.

MR. HENDERSON SAID THE POSITION WITH REGARD TO CHILD LABOUR IN HONG KONG HAD IMPROVED ENORMOUSLY OVER THE LAST DECADE, AND THE LABOUR INSPECTORATE WERE VIGILANT IN THEIR WORK IN ERADICATING WHAT LITTLE REMAINED.

+THE HOT-LINE SERVICE IS A MAJOR EFFORT IN THIS RESPECT,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

COMPLAINTS MADE ON THE LINE WILL BE ANSWERED BY AN OFFICER IN CHARGE OF COMPLAINT INVESTIGATIONS BETWEEN 9 A.M. AND 1 P.M. AND BETWEEN 2 P.M. TO 5.30 P.M. ON WEEKDAYS AND FROM 9 A.M. TO NOON ON SATURDAYS. CALLS COMING IN OUTSIDE THESE HOURS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY RECORDED.

+THESE COMPLAINTS WILL BE PROCESSED CENTRALLY AND THE NEW HOT-LINE SHOULD THEREFORE BE USED AS FAR AS PRACTICABLE TO ENABLE OFFICERS IN THE UNIT TO INITIATE INVESTIGATIONS SOON AFTER A COMPLAINT IS RECEIVED, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

HE URGED PEOPLE MAKING COMPLAINTS ON THE HOT-LINE TO GIVE THEIR NAMES AND ADDRESSES OR TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR FURTHER CONTACTS.

+ALL COMPLAINTS WOULD BE TREATED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE, HE STRESSED.

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