XN000022-1990-07-04 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1990

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"IN OTHER WORDS WE REGARD THE PAYMENT OF WAGES IN FULL AS BEING INVIOLATE, BUT WE WOULD NOT STAND IN THE WAY OF AN EMPLOYER ENTERING INTO A PRIVATE ARRANGEMENT WITH HIS EMPLOYEES OVER REMITTANCES, HE SAID.

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MR YEUNG SAID THAT MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT AND THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD BE PROVIDED WITH ADDITIONAL STAFF то COPE WITH THE WORK ARISING FROM THESE IMPORTATION SCHEMES.

"INSOFAR AS THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IS CONCERNED, INVOLVED IN ENSURING THAT THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE IS WITH INCLUDES THE BRIEFING OF BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES RESPECTIVE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS, AND ON INSPECTIONS WORKPLACES AND DOMESTIC ACCOMMODATION.

THE WORK COMPLIED

ON THEIR OF BOTH

"THE SCHEMES WILL, OF COURSE, BE MONITORED BY THE STEERING GROUP ON A REGULAR BASIS AND I SHALL KEEP THE OMELCO MANPOWER PANEL INFORMED OF PROGRESS FROM TIME TO TIME.

"I SHOULD PERHAPS ADD THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL HAVE NO HESITATION IN TAKING BOTH EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES ΤΟ COURT FOR BREACHES OF EMPLOYMENT LEGISLATION OR OF VISA CONDITIONS, HE SAID.

"

ON CONSULTATION, MR YEUNG NOTED THAT IN RECENT WEEKS THE GOVERNMENT HAD BEEN CRITICISED FOR HAVING FAILED TO CONSULT THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD BEFORE IT ANNOUNCED ITS DECISION TO ALLOW FURTHER IMPORTS OF LABOUR, AND SEVERAL MEMBERS OF LEGCO HAD ECHOED THIS CRITICISM.

HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT HAD CAREFULLY CONSIDERED THE PROPRIETY OF CONSULTING THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD BEFORE THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSALS WERE PUT TO THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL, AND HAD COME ΤΟ THE CONCLUSION THAT IT WOULD NOT BE ENTIRELY APPROPRIATE то TAKE THIS STEP.

IN THE FIRST PLACE, HE SAID, THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD ADVISED 'THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR ON SUCH MATTERS AFFECTING LABOUR, INCLUDING LEGISLATION AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL LABOUR ORGANISATION, AS THE COMMISSIONER MAY REFER TO IT

WHEREAS THE ISSUBS BEING DEBATED AFFECTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG'S ECONOMY AND WENT WELL BEYOND PURELY LABOUR CONSIDERATIONS.

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REPRESENTATIVES AND

"SECONDLY THE VIEWS OF BOTH EMPLOYERS' TRADE UNION REPRESENTATIVES ARE ALREADY WELL KNOWN, FOR THEY HAVE BEEN DEBATED LONG AND HARD IN RECENT YEARS.

"THIRDLY, GIVEN THAT THOSE VIEWS ARE DIAMETRICALLY OPPOSED, THE ADVICE OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD WOULD MOST LIKELY HAVE BEEN SO FINELY BALANCED AS TO HAVE BEEN INCONCLUSIVE," HE SAID.

MR YEUNG ALSO SAID HE COULD NOT AGREE WITH SUGGESTIONS THAT THE GOVERNMENT HAD NOT DONE ENOUGH TO IMPROVE THE WELL-BEING OF LOCAL WORKERS, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS.

/"AS I