XN000022-1982-12-30 — Page 18

17

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1982

FISH.

FISHERMEN WARNED NOT TO USE EXPLOSIVES

***

FISHERMEN HAVE BEEN WARNED NOT TO USE EXPLOSIVES TO CATCH

IN ISSUING THE WARNING, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT SAID THAT SIX PEOPLE HAD BEEN PROSECUTED FOR FISHING WITH EXPLOSIVES SINCE APRIL THIS YEAR, AND ONE OF THEM WAS SENT TO PRISON FOR ONE MONTH, WHILE THE OTHERS WERE FINED A TOTAL OF $4 750.

DEWAY

FISHING WITH EXPLOSIVES IS AN OFFENCE UNDER THE FISHERIES PROTECTION ORDINANCE AND IS PUNISHABLE WITH A MAXIMUM FINE OF $2 000 AND THREE MONTHS IMPRISONMENT, HE EXPLAINED.

+IT IS ALSO HIGHLY DANGEROUS,+ HE ADDED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT PATROLS HAD BEEN STEPPED UP TO PREVENT SUCH ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.

+FISHERIES INSPECTORS OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE MARINE POLICE MAKE CONCERTED EFFORTS IN PATROLLING THE WATERS OF HONG KONG TO STAMP OUT SUCH ACTIVITIES,

+THE ROYAL HONG KONG AUXILIARY AIR FORCE ALSO ASSISTS BY KEEPING A WATCH FOR EXPLOSIONS AND BY REPORTING THE LICENCE NUMBERS OF VESSELS INVOLVED, HE SAID,

REMINDER ON PAID ANNUAL LEAVE

***

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (THURSDAY) REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT THEIR EMPLOYEES ARE ENTITLED TO SEVEN DAYS OF ANNUAL LEAVE WITH PAY IF THEY HAVE WORKED FOR THEM FOR A CONTINUOUS PERIOD OF 12 MONTHS. THE LEAVE SHOULD BE TAKEN WITHIN THE FOLLOWING 12 MONTHS.

AN EMPLOYER SHOULD FIX THE DATE OF THE LEAVE AFTER CONSULTING HIS EMPLOYEES AND SHOULD CONFIRM THIS WITH A WRITTEN NOTICE AT LEAST 14 DAYS IN ADVANCE, UNLESS A SHORTER PERIOD HAS BEEN MUTUALLY AGREED.

ANNUAL LEAVE, THE SPOKESMAN SAID, MAY BE GRANTED IN THE FORM OF SEVEN CONSECUTIVE DAYS OR, IF THE EMPLOYEE SO REQUESTS, IN AT LEAST FOUR CONSECUTIVE DAYS AT ONE TIME AND THE REMAINING DAYS EITHER CONSECUTIVELY OR SEPARATELY AT ANOTHER TIME.

ALTHOUGH ANY REST DAY OR STATUTORY HOLIDAY FALLING WITHIN THE PERIOD OF ANNUAL LEAVE WILL BE COUNTED AS ANNUAL LEAVE, HOWEVER ANOTHER REST DAY OR HOLIDAY MUST BE SUBSTITUTED.

THE SPOKESMAN WENT ON TO SAY THAT ANNUAL LEAVE PAY SHOULD BE EQUIVALENT TO NORMAL WAGES, OTHER THAN OVERTIME PAY. WHERE AN EMPLOYEE IS EMPLOYED ON PIÉCE RATES OR WHERE THE WAGES VARY FROM DAY TO DAY, ANNUAL LEAVE PAY SHOULD BE CALCULATED BY REFERENCE TO THE AVERAGE DAILY WAGES DURING THE 28 DAYS PRECEDING ANNUAL LEAVE.