XN000022-1980-02-13 — Page 19

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 1980

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IN THE FIRST YEAR THE RATE APPLIED IS EQUAL TO 50 PER CENT OF WHATEVER THE GENERAL RATE FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES MIGHT BE. IN THE SECOND YEAR 60 PER CENT, IN THE THIRD YEAR 70 PER CENT AND SO ON UP TO 100 PER CENT IN THE SIXTH YEAR.

AS THE GENERAL RATE FOR THE NEW TERRITORIES IS 11 PER CENT, FOR 1980-81 THE PERCENTAGE TO BE APPLIED TO AREAS F TOM (FOR THEIR FIFTH YEAR OF ASSESSMENT) IS THEREFORE 90 PER CENT OF 11 PER CENT, OR 10 PER CENT, AND FOR AREA N (FOR ITS FOURTH YEAR OF ASSESSMENT) IT IS 80 PER CENT OF 11 PER CENT, OR 9 PER CENT, BOTH PERCENTAGES BEING ROUNDED UP TO THE NEAREST HALF POINT.

IN THE NEWLY ASSESSED AREAS P Q, R AND S (CHEUNG CHAU, PENG CHAU, LANTAU AND MA WAN, AND LAMMA ISLANDS) WHICH ARE IN THE IR FIRST YEAR OF ASSESSMENT, THE PERCENTAGE IS 50 PER CENT OF 11 PER CENT, OR 5.5 PER CENT,

EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980 INTRODUCED INTO LEGCO

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A BILL SEEKING TO TRANSFER THE REGULATIONS COVERING THE EXISTING CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS FROM THE FACTOR IES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE TO THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE WAS INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MOVING THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1980, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON J.N. HENDERSON, SAID THE TRANSFER WOULD LEAVE THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE TO CONCENTRATE ON MATTERS CONCERNING THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF WORKERS.

*THE INTENTION HAS BEEN TO RATIONALISE THE POSITION SO THAT THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE WILL DEAL WITH MEASURES OF A SOCIAL NATURE RELATING TO EMPLOYMENT, LEAVING THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE TO DEAL WITH SAFETY AT WORK, HE SAID.

MR HENDERSON STRESSED THAT THE AMENDMENTS WERE IN LINE WITH EXISTING PROVISIONS IN THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE.

HOWEVER, ONE OF THE AMENDMENTS WOULD HAVE THE EFFECT OF EXTENDING THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR'S POWER TO REQUIRE THE POSTING UP OF NOTICES CONTAINING VARIOUS ABSTRACTS OF LABOUR LEGISLATION TO COVER ESTABLISHMENTS IN THE NON-INDUSTRIAL SECTOR, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF DOMESTIC PREMISES.

ONE NEW PROPOSAL, MR HENDERSON CONTINUED, SOUGHT TO BRING EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES DEALING SOLELY WITH DOMESTIC SERVANTS UNDER THE AMBIT OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.

PART XII OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, WHICH WAS ENACTED IN 1973 TO REGULATE PRIVATE EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES ESSENTIALLY BY LICENSING, DID NOT APPLY TO THOSE AGENCIES DEALING SOLELY WITH DOMESTIC SERVANTS.

THE REASON