XN000022-1992-01-29 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29, 1992

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MR CHAN EMPHASISED THAT THE LABOUR IMPORTATION SCHEME DID NOT SERVE TO PROVIDE CHEAP LABOUR FOR EMPLOYERS.

IN FACT, HE SAID, THE EXPENSES SUCH AS WAGES, TRAVELLING EXPENSES, ACCOMMODATION, ALLOWANCES AND QUOTA LEVY, BORNE BY AN EMPLOYER IN HIRING BACH IMPORTED WORKER, WILL DEFINITELY EXCEED THE LOCAL MEDIAN WAGE.

ALLAYING THE FEAR THAT IMPORTED WORKERS WOULD FACE UNLAWFUL WAGE DEDUCTION AND WOULD THUS BECOME CHEAP LABOUR ULTIMATELY, MR CHAN SAID: "THE GOVERNMENT HAS CLEARLY STIPULATED THAT ALL EMPLOYERS SHOULD PAY THE AGREED WAGES TO THE IMPORTED WORKERS THROUGH AUTOPAY.

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FURTHERMORE, THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL HAS ENDORSED A BILL WHICH SEEKS TO RAISE THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR UNLAWFUL DEDUCTION OR UNDERPAYMENT OF WAGES FROM A FINE OF $10,000 OR $20,000 TO A FINE OF $100,000 OR $200,000 RESPECTIVELY PLUS IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE YEAR.

AS REGARDS OTHER RELATED OFFENCES OF GIVING FALSE INFORMATION, WITHHOLDING INFORMATION AND FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS, THE PENALTIES WILL CONCURRENTLY BE RAISED FROM $10,000 TO $100,000.

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THE CRIMINAL LIABILITY OF EMPLOYERS WILL ALSO BE CLEARLY SET OUT UNDER A NEW SECTION OF THE PROPOSED BILL IN ORDER TO MAXIMISE DETERRENT EFFECT.

"AT THE SAME TIME, WE WILL TAKE ADMINISTRATIVE MEASURES, WHERE APPROPRIATE, TO WITHDRAW THE QUOTA OF THE OFFENDING EMPLOYERS AND TO DENY THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPLY FOR IMPORTATION OF LABOUR AGAIN, HE SAID.

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SUMMING UP HIS SPEECH, MR CHAN STRESSED ONCE &GAIN THAT IN DECIDING TO CONTINUE IMPORTING LABOUR, THE GOVERNMENT WAS IN NO WAY SIDING WITH EMPLOYERS.

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"IN FACT, THE CEILING OF 25,000 IMPORTED WORKERS FALLS SHORT OF THE NUMBER REQUESTED BY INDUSTRIAL AND BUSINESS ORGANISATIONS AND EMPLOYERS' ORGANISATIONS.

"MOREOVER, SOME PROCEDURES UNDER THE LABOUR IMPORTATION SCHEME WILL, I AM AFRAID, NOT BE WELCOMED BY EMPLOYERS IN GENERAL," HE SAID.

HE REITERATED THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S POSITION WAS то IMPORT FOREIGN LABOUR IN A RESTRICTED AND WELL-CONTROLLED MANNER TAKING ACCOUNT OF THE INTERESTS OF ALL PARTIES CONCERNED AND THE NEED TO SUSTAIN THE ECONOMIC GROWTH OF HONG KONG.

"WE BELIEVE THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S DECISION HAS STRUCK THE BEST BALANCE AND IS TOTALLY IN LINE WITH THE OVERALL INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, HE SAID.

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ON THE ABOVE BASIS, MR CHAN DID NOT SUPPORT THE CALL IN THE HON PANG CHUN HOI'S MOTION FOR THE SUSPENSION OF THE IMPORTATION OF LABOUR SCHEME.

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