XN000022-1992-03-11 — Page 11

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 1992

10

HAD A HISTORY THEIR

THE EMPLOYMENT OF FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS HAS OF MORE THAN 15 YEARS AND BOTH THE FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS AND EMPLOYERS WERE WELL AWARE OF THEIR RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS, HE ADDED.

"EMPLOYERS OF FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS ARE SUBJECT TO

IF PROSECUTION

HAVE COMMITTED OFFENCES THEY ORDINANCE OR THE IMMIGRATION ORDINANCE.

UNDER

THE

EMPLOYMENT

TO THE SUITABLE ++ MR

"THE

INFORMATION OF OFFENCES PROVIDE USEFUL RECORDS IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT IN DECIDING WHETHER AN EMPLOYER IS A SPONSOR IN FUTURE APPLICATIONS FOR EMPLOYMENT OF FOREIGN WORKERS, CHAN SAID.

PROVISION OF PUBLIC SERVICE EXPLAINED

THE GOVERNMENT WOULD PREFER SERVICES AND FACILITIES то BE PROVIDED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR WHERE IT IS WILLING AND ABLE TO DO So, AND WHERE THE PUBLIC INTEREST CAN BE ADEQUATELY SAFEGUARDED.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON HAMISH MACLEOD, IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON FRED LI WAH-MING, MR MACLEOD SAID MOST PUBLIC TRANSPORT, HARBOUR CROSSINGS, BROADCASTING, POWER GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS WERE PROVIDED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

"WHERE THESE BUSINESSES ARE MONOPOLIES OR QUASI-MONOPOLIES, THE PUBLIC INTEREST IS USUALLY SAFEGUARDED THROUGH FRANCHISE AND/OR LICENSING ARRANGEMENTS OF SOME SORT," HE SAID.

"WHERE A PUBLIC SERVICE NEEDS TO BE PROVIDED, AND THERE IS MERIT IN GIVING ITS MANAGEMENT A LARGE DEGREE OF AUTONOMY AND IN ENSURING THAT IT

OPERATES THE SERVICE IN ACCORDANCE WITH PRUDENT COMMERCIAL PRINCIPLES, WE TEND TO SEEK TO PROVIDE IT THROUGH THE MECHANISM OF A STATUTORY CORPORATION," HE SAID.

THE MTRC, KCRC AND THE HONG KONG EXPORT CORPORATION ARE CASES IN POINT.

CREDIT INSURANCE

IS

OR

WHERE A PUBLIC SERVICE IS NEEDED, BUT THE PRIVATE SECTOR EITHER UNABLE OR UNWILLING TO DO SO (EITHER BECAUSE OF ITS SIZE BECAUSE IT IS NOT COMMERCIALLY VIABLE), MR MACLEOD SAID THE GOVERNMENT WOULD CONSIDER PROVIDING THAT SERVICE.

EFFECTIVELY THROUGH THE

"WE WOULD, HOWEVER, ASK OURSELVES WHETHER ALTERNATIVELY THE SERVICE COULD BE PROVIDED EFFICIENTLY AND MECHANISM OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES," HE ADDED.

AIDED SCHOOLS AND SUBVENTED HOSPITALS AND WELFARE AGENCIES FORMED THE BULK OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES.

"WHERE THE SERVICE CANNOT BE PROVIDED IN THAT WAY, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ASSUME THE DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY OF SERVICE THROUGH A GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENT, HE SAID.

DELIVERING

THE

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