XN000022-1983-08-29 — Page 4

MONDAY, AUGUST 29, 1983

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THE BILL PROPOSES TO INCREASE THE RATE OF PAID SICK LEAVE FROM ONE DAY PER MONTH TO TWO DAYS PER MONTH IN THE FIRST THREE MONTHS OF CONTINUOUS EMPLOYMENT AND TO FOUR DAYS A MONTH THEREAFTER, AND TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PAID SICK LEAVE DAYS THAT MAY BE ACCUMULATED FROM 36 DAYS TO 120 DAYS. HOWEVER, AN EMPLOYEE MAY ONLY TAKE UP TO 90 DAYS OF PAID SICK LEAVE DURING ANY ONE SICKNESS IF HE DOES NOT REQUIRE HOSPITALISATION, AND UP TO 120 DAYS IF HOSPITALISATION IS REQUIRED.

THE BILL ALSO PROPOSES TO PROHIBIT THE TERMINATION OF SERVICE OF AN EMPLOYEE DURING ANY PERIOD OF PAID SICK LEAVE UNLESS HIS EMPLOYER PAYS WAGES IN LIEU OF NOTICE, AN ADDITIONAL SUM EQUAL TO SEVEN DAYS' WAGES AND THE FULL SICKNESS ALLOWANCE TO WHICH HE WOULD HAVE BEEN ENTITLED DURING HIS SICKNESS.

REGISTER OF ELECTORS OPENING ON WEDNESDAY

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THE REGISTER OF ELECTORS FOR THE DISTRICT BOARDS AND THE URBAN COUNCIL WILL BE OPENED TO NEW APPLICANTS ON WEDNESDAY (AUGUST 31).

THOSE WHO ARE ELIGIBLE BUT HAVE NOT REGISTERED PREVIOUSLY CAN DO SO IN THE NEXT SIX WEEKS AND NOT LATER THAN OCTOBER 11.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT'S REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL DIVISION EXPLAINED THAT SUCH REGISTRATION EXERCISES ARE CONDUCTED ANNUALLY, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER AN ORDINARY ELECTION IS HELD THE FOLLOWING YEAR.

THOSE WHO APPLY NOW WILL HAVE THEIR NAMES INCLUDED IN THE NEXT FINAL REGISTER OF ELECTORS TO BE PUBLISHED EARLY IN 1984.

THOSE WHO ARE ALREADY REGISTERED NEED NOT APPLY AGAIN ALTHOUGH THEY ARE REQUESTED TO INFORM THE REGISTRATION OFFICER AT THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL DIVISION OF ANY CHANGE OF ADDRESS.

GENERALLY, ANYONE HOLDING A HONG KONG IDENTITY CARD WHO WILL BE 21 YEARS OF AGE OR OVER ON NOVEMBER 30, 1983 AND WHO WILL HAVE LIVED IN HONG KONG FOR SEVEN YEARS OR MORE, IS ELIGIBLE FOR REGISTRATION.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THAT THE APPLICATION PROCEDURE WAS SIMPLE.

+ALL THAT THE PERSON HAS TO DO IS TO GIVE HIS NAME, SEX, RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS AND IDENTITY CARD NUMBER ON A FORM, IN EITHER ENGLISH OR CHINESE, AND HAVE IT RETURNED POSTAGE FREE TO THE REGISTRATION OFFICER, HE SAID.

APPLICATION FORMS ARE OBTAINABLE FREE OF CHARGE AT ALL DISTRICT OFFICES OF THE CITY AND NEW TERRITORIES ADMINISTRATION, POST OFFICES, PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATE OFFICES, IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT OFFICES, URBAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT BRANCH OFFICES, AND THE REGISTRATION AND ELECTORAL DIVISION, AT HARBOUR CENTRE, 10TH FLOOR, 25 HARBOUR ROAD. HONG KONG.

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