XN000022-1984-11-16 — Page 6

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1984

DURING TWO DAYS OF CONSULTATIONS WITH SENIOR U.S. OFFICIALS IN WASHINGTON AT THE END OF OCTOBER, THE HONG KONG DELEGATION DID NOT SECURE THE UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF THE THREE SHIPMENTS.

ONE SHIPMENT - LADIES LAMBSWOOL SWEATERS - INVOLVES CHINESE YARN KNITTED INTO +PANELS+ (PARTS) IN CHINA WITH ALL OTHER PROCESSES CARRIED OUT IN HONG KONG.

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IN THE OTHER TWO SHIPMENTS LADIES SHETLAND WOOL SWEATERS AND CARDIGANS ONLY THE PANEL KNITTING WAS CARRIED OUT IN CHINA, ALL OTHER PROCESSES BEING CARRIED OUT IN HONG KONG INCLUDING THE SPINNING AND DYEING OF THE YARN.

+WE DECIDED TO TAKE THE ISSUE TO TSB FOLLOWING CONSULTATIONS IN HONG KONG WITH THE TEXTILES ADVISORY BOARD, + THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

+THE SHIPMENTS ILLUSTRATE ONE OF HONG KONG'S FUNDAMENTAL OBJECTIONS, NAMELY THAT SOME GOODS PREVIOUSLY ENTITLED TO ENTER THE UNITED STATES UNDER THE BILATERAL TEXTILES AGREEMENT CAN NO LONGER DO SO.

+AS SUCH, THE REFERRAL HAS A POTENTIAL SIGNIFICANCE BEYOND THE THREE CASÈS CONCERNED,+ THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

AIM TO BRING MORE WORKERS UNDER LAW *****

A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE WHICH MAY BRING MORE WORKERS UNDER THE PROTECTION OF THE LAW IS NOW BEING CONSIDERED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT.

MR DONALD CHAN, CHIEF LABOUR OFFICER OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND HEAD OF ITS LABOUR RELATIONS DIVISION, SAID TODAY THAT LETTERS HAD BEEN SENT TO EMPLOYERS' AND EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, SEEK ING THE IR VIEWS ON A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE DEFINITION OF CONTINUOUS CONTRACT+ IN THE FIRST SCHEDULE OF THE ORDINANCE.

SPEAKING AT A LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT INDUSTRIALISTS ASSOCIATION, MR CHAN SAID THE EXISTING DEFINITION OF +CONTINUOUS CONTRACT+ DATED BACK TO 1968 WHEN THE ORDINANCE WAS INTRODUCED.

UNDER THE ORDINANCE, A CONTINUOUS CONTRACT WAS DEFINED AS ONE IN WHICH AN EMPLOYEE HAD WORKED FOR THE SAME EMPLOYER FOR FOUR WEEKS OR MORE ON AT LEAST THREE DAYS IN EACH WEEK AND FOR NOT LESS THAN SIX HOURS ON EACH DAY.

MR CHAN SAID VARIOUS RIGHTS AND BENEFITS HAD BEEN ADDED UNDER THE ORDINANCE SINCE 1968, AND THESE WERE ONLY APPLICABLE TO_AN EMPLOYEE WORKING UNDER A CONTINUOUS CONTRACT+ OF EMPLOYMENT.

/HE EXPLAINED