XN000022-1989-04-19 — Page 3

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 19, 1989

2

-

MARKET FORCES ARE MORE EFFECTIVE IN IMPROVING WAGES

IN A TIME OF FULL EMPLOYMENT AS AT PRESENT, MARKET FORCES ARE MORE EFFECTIVE IN PUTTING PRESSURE ON EMPLOYERS TO IMPROVE WAGES THAN WITH LEGISLATION, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, THE HON RON BRIDGE TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON POON CHI-FAI, ON POSSIBLE INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE FOR A MINIMUM WAGE FOR WORKERS, MR BRIDGE SAID THAT IN TIMES OF HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT THE PROPOSALS MIGHT SEEM ATTRACTIVE, BECAUSE AT SUCH TIMES WAGES TENDED TO GO DOWN.

HOWEVER, HE SAID THAT EVEN THEN, MINIMUM WAGE

MIGHT DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD.

LEGISLATION

QUOTING AN ARTICLE IN THE ECONOMIST, MR BRIDGE SAID: "TWO THINGS HAVE BEEN CLEAR: THAT A MINIMUM WAGE REDUCES JOB OPPORTUNITIES, ESPECIALLY FOR THE YOUNG, THE DISADVANTAGED AND MINORITIES, AND THAT ITS EFFECT ON POVERTY IS TINY.

CHINESE NATIONAL TREATED LIKE OTHERS

WHO DON'T HAVE PERMISSION TO LAND

CHINESE NATIONAL, MR CHEN JUN, WAS TREATED IN THE SAME MANNER AS OTHER PERSONS IN SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE THEY DO NOT HAVE PERMISSION TO LAND IN HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY, THE HON GEOFFREY BARNES TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON SZETO WAH, WHO ASKED WHETHER ALL PASSENGERS WERE SEPERATED FROM THE PRESS WHEN THEY WERE IN TRANSIT, MR BARNES POINTED OUT THAT TRANSIT PASSENGERS AT THE AIRPORT WERE NOT REQUIRED ΤΟ PRESENT THEMSELVES FOR IMMIGRATION EXAMINATION.

THEY REMAINED IN THE TRANSIT LOUNGE UNTIL THEY BOARDED THEIR ONWARD FLIGHTS.

THE TRANSIT LOUNGE WAS A RESTRICTED AREA, AND FACILITIES WERE NOT PROVIDED THERE FOR THE PRESS TO MEET PASSENGERS.

SAID.

"MR CHEN, HOWEVER, WAS NOT A TRANSIT PASSENGER," MR BARNES

/HE SAID