XN000022-1992-05-20 — Page 29

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 1992

GIC FACILITIES ARE NORMALLY DESIGNED TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE END-USER.

HE SAID THE INTENSITY TO WHICH GIC SITES WERE DEVELOPED WAS GENERALLY DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH A SCHEDULE OF ACCOMMODATION RELATED TO THEIR USE AND PLANNING STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES.

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*FOR EXAMPLE, THE SITE REQUIREMENTS OF A SCHOOL ARE DIFFERENT FROM THOSE OF A GOVERNMENT OFFICE BUILDING, OR A POLYCLINIC, OR A DIVISIONAL POLICE STATION, ETC.

"PLOT RATIO IS THUS NOT A DETERMINING FACTOR IN DECIDING HOW AND TO WHAT INTENSITY GIC SITES SHOULD BE DEVELOPED," MR EASON SAID.

NOR WAS IT APPROPRIATE TO COMPARE THE DEVELOPMENT INTENSITY OF GIC SITES WITH THAT OF INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL OR RESIDENTIAL SITES BY REFERENCE TO PLOT RATIOS, THE SECRETARY ADDED.

FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS MAY APPLY

FOR STAY EXTENSION TO SEEK REDRESS

FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS WHOSE CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN TERMINATED PREMATURELY ARE NORMALLY PERMITTED TO REMAIN IN HONG KONG FOR TWO WEEKS SO AS TO SETTLE THEIR AFFAIRS AND MAKE ARRANGEMENTS то LEAVE HONG KONG,

BUT IF THEY HAVE A GENUINE REASON TO STAY BEYOND THE TWO WEEKS PERMITTED, SUCH AS THEY HAVE BEEN UNFAIRLY TREATED AND ARE SEEKING REDRESS, THEY MAY APPLY FOR AN EXTENSION OF STAY IN ORDER TO PURSUE CLAIM AGAINST THEIR FORMER EMPLOYERS.

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THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN, IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ELSIE TU IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

MR CHAN SAID THE CURRENT PERIOD OF EXTENSION RANGED FROM FIVE 17 WEEKS DEPENDING ON THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF INDIVIDUAL CASES AND A STANDARD FEE OF $115 WAS CHARGED FOR EACH EXTENSION.

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UPON RECEIPT OF A REQUEST FROM A FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPER, THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL NORMALLY ARRANG, CONCILIATION MEETINGS WITHIN FOUR WEEKS.

LAST YEAR, IT DEALT WITH 908 SUCH CASES, OF WHICH TWO-THIRDS WERE SETTLED AFTER CONCILIATION.

BUT IF THE DISPUTE IS SUBSEQUENTLY BROUGHT то THE LABOUR TRIBUNAL, THE WAITING TIME FOR THE HEARING COULD BE UP TO FOUR MONTHS.

IN ANY CASE, MR CHAN SAID, FOREIGN DOMESTIC HELPERS ARE NOT NORMALLY ALLOWED TO WORK FOR NEW EMPLOYERS DURING THIS WAITING PERIOD.

/FOREIGN DOMESTIC