XN000022-1982-02-20 — Page 7

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 1982

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IN HONG KONG, HE SAID, THERE WAS A NEED TO STRIKE A BALANCE BETWEEN SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AS THE ASPIRATIONS OF THE POPULATION TO AVOID LOP-SIDED DEVELOPMENT. IT WAS ALSO ESSENTIAL TO ENSURE STEADY CROWTH, INDUSTRIAL PEACE AND THE PROSPERITY THAT THE ECONOMY NEEDED TO ENABLE THE QUALITY OF LIFE TO BE IMPROVED.

ON ITS PART, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE THE POLICY OF INVOLVEMENT IN THE SAFETY, HEALTH AND WELFARE OF THE WORKFORCE, BUT WOULD CONTINUE ALSO TO AVOID CUMBERSOME REGULATIONS AND UNDUE INTERFERENCE IN LABOUR MATTERS.

THIS POLICY HAS STOOD US IN GOOD STEAD IN THE PAST AND I AM SURE WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE,+ MR HENDERSON NOTED.

SPEAKING AT THE CONFERENCE, THE CHIEF LABOUR OFFICER (LABOUR RELATIONS) OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, MR DONALD CHAN, TRACED THE DEVELOPMENTS IN THE LABOUR RELATIONS SCENE FROM THE 1950'S TO THE 1970'S, OUTLINED THE GOVERNMENT'S ROLES IN PROMOTING HARMONIOUS LABOUR RELATIONS AND SPOKE OF SOME OF THE FACTORS THAT WOULD AFFECT LABOUR RELATIONS IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

HE POINTED OUT THAT LABOUR RELATIONS IN HONG KONG HAD BEEN QUIET, PEACEFUL AND HARMONIOUS, A RECORD THAT ALL PARTIES CONCERNED COULD BE PROUD OF.

TURNING TO THE FUTURE. MR CHAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONTINUE THE POLICY OF KEEPING LABOUR STANDARDS COMPARABLE TO THE BEST OF NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES.

THE LEGISLATIVE THRUST WOULD BE IN THE AREA OF INDUSTRIAL SAFETY AND OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH, EMPLOYEES' COMPENSATION INSURANCE, ASSESSING INJURIES AND PROCESSING COMPENSATION CLAIMS, AND SICKNESS AND DEATH BENEFITS.

MR CHAN'S SUGGESTION TO EMPLOYERS IN THE CHANGING TRENDS OF LABOUR RELATIONS WAS SIMPLY BEING WILLING TO TRY NEW PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT DEVICES+ AND CONSULT YOUR STAFF MORE+.

HE TOLD THE MEETING : +IDENTIFY THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE STAFF OF YOUR INDUSTRY AND YOUR ORGANISATION AND THEN FIND THE RIGHT MIX OF APPROACH TO LABOUR RELATIONS. YOU MUST ENSURE THAT YOUR ATTITUDES AND STRUCTURAL RESPONSES ARE FLEXIBLE AND ADAPTABLE TO MEET THE CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES.+

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