XN000022-1983-11-09 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1983

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HE REFERRED TO THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG'S COMMENTS ABOUT CONCERN EXPRESSED BY MANUFACTURERS ABOUT THE COST EFFECT TO THE ECONOMY OF CERTAIN TYPES OF LABOUR LEGISLATION AND SAID THAT THE ECONOMIC EFFECTS OF LABOUR HAD ALWAYS BEEN TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN POLICY CONSIDERATION.

HIS EXPERIENCE IN THE LAST TEN YEARS WAS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD THE GENERAL SUPPORT OF EMPLOYERS IN +OUR MEASURED PROGRESS+ IN THE FIELD OF LABOUR LEGISLATION.

+AND I WOULD INCLUDE IN THAT THE RECENT EXTENSION OF PAID SICK LEAVE, WHICH HAD THEIR GENERAL SUPPORT FROM AN EARLY STAGE,+ HE SAID.

BILL TO RECTIFY OMISSION

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A BILL DEALING WITH TWO TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS OMITTED AT THE COMMITTEE STAGE OF WHAT IS NOW THE ROAD TRAFFIC (DRIVING-OFFENCE POINTS) ORDINANCE 1983 IN THE PREVIOUS SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, WAS READ A SECOND TIME IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

MOVING THE ROAD TRAFFIC (DRIVING-OFFENCE POINTS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, THE SECRETARY FOR TRANSPORT, THE HON ALAN SCOTT SAID THE BILL WILL RECTIFY THE OVERSIGHT, BEFORE THE ORDINANCE IS IMPLEMENTED IN AUGUST 1984.

THE AMENDMENTS ARE CONSEQUENTIAL UPON THE CHANGE MOVED BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS TO REDUCE FROM THREE TO TWO YEARS THE PERIOD WITHIN WHICH OFFENCES HAD TO BE COMMITTED FOR A PERSON TO BE DISQUALIFIED FROM DRIVING.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED TO NOVEMBER 23.

LEGCO PASSES THREE BILLS

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THREE BILLS WERE APPROVED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

THEY WERE THE PENSIONS (INCREASE) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1983 AND THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983.

FOUR BILLS WERE INTRODUCED AND READ A SECOND TIME, AND DEBATE ON THEM WAS ADJOURNED.

THEY ARE THE INLAND REVENUE (AMENDMENT) (NO. 4) BILL 1983, THE ROAD TRAFFIC (DRIVING-OFFENCE POINTS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983, THE CITY POLYTECHNIC OF HONG KONG BILL 1983 AND THE HOLIDAYS (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983.

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