XN000022-1986-04-30 — Page 16

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30, 1986

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NO SPECIAL HOLIDAY FOR LABOUR DAY

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THE GOVERNMENT HAS NO PLANS TO INTRODUCE AN ADDITIONAL STATUTORY HOLIDAY TO CELEBRATE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR DAY BUT, WITH THE CONSENT OF THEIR EMPLOYER, EMPLOYEES MAY TAKE A 'FLOATING HOLIDAY ON MAY 1 UNDER EXISTING LEGISLATION.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON NE IL HENDERSON, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO THE HON TAM YIU-CHUNG IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR HENDERSON EXPLAINED THAT THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE REQUIRED EMPLOYERS TO GRANT 11 PAID STATUTORY HOLIDAYS A YEAR, TWO OF WHICH COULD BE TAKEN ON ANY DAY, INCLUDING MAY 1.

HE ALSO SAID THAT WHILE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR DAY WAS CELEBRATED BY A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES, IT IS BY NO MEANS A UNIVERSALLY RECOGNISED HOLIDAY+.

+HONG KONG ALREADY HAS MORE STATUTORY HOLIDAYS THAN MOST OF ITS ASIAN NEIGHBOURS, HE ADDED.

MARKET PLANNING STANDARDS FOR REVIEW

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THE GOVERNMENT IS TO REVIEW ITS MARKET PLANNING STANDARDS TO ENSURE THAT THEY MEET CURRENT REQUIREMENTS AND TAKE INTO ACCOUNT CHANGING SHOPPING PATTERNS.

THIS WAS DISCLOSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) BY THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, THE HON NICKY CHAN, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHUNG PUI-LAM.

MR CHAN SAID PRESENT STANDARDS ALLOWED FOR 140 MARKET STALLS PER 10 000 PEOPLE IN PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND ONE STALL FOR 60 TO 90 HOUSEHOLDS IN PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES.

HE SAID HE AGREED WITH MR CHUNG THAT THERE WAS A NEED FOR A MARKET IN THE LAI WAN AREA, BASED ON PRESENT STANDARDS AND TAKING INTO ACCOUNT EXISTING FACILITIES IN MEI FOO SUN CHUEN.

+A NUMBER OF SITES HAS IN THE PAST BEEN CONSIDERED, BUT FOR VARIOUS REASONS, INCLUDING ACCESSIBILITY TO THE CATCHMENT POPULATION, NONE HAS SO FAR BEEN AGREED, HE SAID.

HE WAS CONFIDENT, HOWEVER, THAT A SITE COULD BE AGREED UPON AS SOON AS THE URBAN COUNCIL DECIDED TO BUILD A MARKET.

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