XN000022-1986-06-04 — Page 8

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1986

+EMPLOYERS ARE REQUIRED TO GRANT TO EMPLOYEES COVERED BY THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE AN ADDITIONAL DAY'S PAID HOLIDAY,+ HE SAID.

AN EMPLOYER WHO FINDS IT INCONVENIENT TO GRANT THE ADDITIONAL HOLIDAY, WHICH IS SUBJECT TO SECTION 39 OF THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, ON OCTOBER 22 MAY THEREFORE GRANT THE HOLIDAY ON ANOTHER DAY WITHIN THE PEROID OF 60 DAYS IMMEDIATELY BEFORE OR AFTER OCTOBER 22, HE ADDED.

DEBATE ON THE BILL WAS ADJOURNED.

JP VISITS TO TREATMENT CENTRES CLAUSE CHALLENGED

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IT IS THE UNANIMOUS VIEW OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL AD HOC GROUP STUDYING THE DRUG ADDICTS TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1986 THAT CLAUSE 3 WHICH REDUCED VISITS BY JUSTICES OF PEACE TO TREATMENT CENTRES SHOULD BE WITHDRAWN, THE HON HUI YIN-FAT SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY) DURING THE RESUMED DEBATE ON THE BILL.

CLAUSE 3 PROPOSED THAT JUSTICES OF PEACE SHOULD VISIT THE TWO ADDICTS TREATMENT CENTRES ONCE AT LEAST EVERY THREE MONTHS INSTEAD OF ONCE EVERY MONTH AS AT PRESENT.

MR HUI POINTED OUT THAT INMATES OF THE WOMEN TREATMENT CENTRE WOULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY THIS PROPOSED AMENDMENT SINCE NEWCOMERS TO THE CENTRE COULD CHOOSE TO TAKE A SHORT TREATMENT COURSE LASTING ONLY THREE TO FOUR WEEKS.

+ IT IS QUITE LIKELY THAT MANY OF THEM WILL MISS THE OFFICIAL VISITS AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE AT THE CENTRE WITH VISITING JUSTICES OF PEACE.

+ THE AMENDMENT THEREFORE TENDS TO DEFEAT THE PURPOSE OF SUCH VISITS,+ HE SAID.

+MEMBERS OF THE AD HOC WORKING GROUP CONSIDERED THE AMENDMENT UNNECESSARY, PARTICULARLY IN VIEW OF THE AVAILABILITY OF JUSTICES OF PEACE WHO CAN GO ON SUCH OFFICIAL VISITS,+ MR HUI ADDED.

CONCERNING THE INCREASE IN MONETARY PENALTIES FOR OFFENCES UNDER THE ORDINANCE AND THE REDUCTION OF THE MAXIMUM AGE LIMIT OF A YOUNG PERSON FROM 19 YEARS TO 18 YEARS, MR HUI SAID THESE AMENDMENTS WERE DEEMED TIMELY AND NECESSARY AND MEMBERS OF THE AD HOC GROUP PLEDGED THEIR FULL SUPPORT.

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