XN000022-1985-12-11 — Page 16

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NES..Y, DECEMBER 11, 1985

+THE TRADE UNIONS ORDINANCE IS MEANWHILE BEING REVIEWED WITH A VIEW TO UPDATING CERTAIN OF ITS PROVISIONS AND RELAXING CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS, + HE SAID.

ON A CALL TO EXPAND THE SCOPE OF THE PROTECTION OF WAGES ON INSOLVENCY FUND, IN PARTICULAR TO COVER WAGES IN LIEU OF NOTICE AND SEVERANCE PAY, MR HENDERSON SAID THE ORIGINAL DECISION TO RESTRICT COVERAGE TO WAGES OWED WAS THE RIGHT ONE,

HOWEVER, HE SAID, THE EXPERIENCE OF THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF OPERATION HAD BEEN ENCOURAGING AND THE PROCEDURES HAD OPERATED QUITE SMOOTHLY AND THE ANNUAL LEVY OF $100 ON BUSINESS REGISTRATION CERTIFICATES HAD PROVED QUITE ADEQUATE.

+AS A NEXT STEP, WE MIGHT THEREFORE CONSIDER EXTENDING THE SCOPE OF THE FUND TO COVER WAGES IN LIEU OF NOTICE UP TO THE PREFERENTIAL LIMIT, HE SAID.

MR HENDERSON SAID WE ALSO NEEDED EXPERIENCE WITH OPERATION OF THE ARRANGEMENTS IN THE EXISTING LEGISLATION FOR RECOVERY BY THE FUND OF PAYMENTS MADE FROM THE ASSETS OF COMPANIES ON LIQUIDATION.

+WHILE I WOULD NOT, THEREFORE, RULE OUT FURTHER EXTENSION OF THE FUND'S COVERAGE TO SEVERANCE PAYMENTS, I DO THINK WE NEED AT LEAST TWO YEARS' EXPERIENCE BEFORE REASSESSING THIS PROPOSAL, + HE SAID.

MR HENDERSON SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD AN OPEN MIND ON THE QUESTION OF A CENTRAL PROVIDENT FUND AND WOULD BE WILLING TO CONS IDER ANY SCHEME PUT FORWARD WHICH APPEARED WORKABLE AND LIKELY TO GAIN WIDESPREAD SUPPORT.

AS FOR REHABILITATION SERVICES, MR HENDERSON SAID THERE WAS INDEED A LONG-TERM PLANNING FRAMEWORK FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THESE SERVICES.

+THE LAST MAJOR REVIEW WAS CARRIED OUT IN 1984, WITH SUBSTANTIAL AND VALUABLE INPUT FROM THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE, AND WE SHALL CONTINUE TO REVIEW PROGRESS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS PENDING THE NEXT MAJOR RE-EXAMINATION OF POLICY IN 1987, + HE ADDED.

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