XN000022-1993-05-19 — Page 21

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 19, 1993

EXCESSIVE EMPLOYERS REJECTED IN FOREIGN LABOUR BIDS

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ALL THE 3,537 EMPLOYERS, WHO WERE FOUND TO HAVE SET UNREASONABLY RESTRICTIVE JOB REQUIREMENTS WHEN REGISTERING THEIR VACANCIES WITH THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT UNDER THE GENERAL LABOUR IMPORTATION SCHEME, HAD THEIR APPLICATIONS REJECTED, THE SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR JOHN CHAN, SAID TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN ADDITION, THERE HAVE BEEN TWO CASES IN WHICH EMPLOYERS STIPULATED UNREASONABLE REQUIREMENTS WHEN APPLYING UNDER THE SPECIAL LABOUR IMPORTATION SCHEME FOR THE NEW AIRPORT AND RELATED PROJECTS.

THESE LATTER EMPLOYERS SUBSEQUENTLY AGREED TO RELAX THEIR REQUIREMENTS UPON THE ADVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT, MR CHAN SAID.

HE WAS SPEAKING IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MICHAEL HO IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

MR CHAN SAID OUT OF A TOTAL OF 14,336 APPLICANTS IN THE LAST TWO ROUNDS OF APPLICATIONS FOR QUOTAS UNDER THE GENERAL SCHEME, 3,537 WERE FOUND TO HAVE SET HARSH JOB REQUIREMENTS IN TERMS OF AGE, EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE.

"THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO REJECT APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED BY EMPLOYERS WHO IMPOSE UNREASONABLY RESTRICTIVE JOB REQUIREMENTS WHEN REGISTERING THEIR VACANCIES WITH THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT," THE SECRETARY STRESSED.

"IN ADDITION, EMPLOYERS WHO ARE KNOWN TO HAVE REFUSED TO ENGAGE SUITABLE LOCAL WORKERS WITHOUT REASONABLE GROUNDS WILL ALSO HAVE THEIR APPLICATIONS REJECTED," HE SAID.

MR CHAN ALSO TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT EMPLOYERS WERE MADE AWARE OF THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS BOTH THROUGH GENERAL PUBLICITY AND IN THE GUIDANCE PAMPHLETS ON THE LABOUR IMPORTATION SCHEMES.

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NO EXPIRY DATE FOR WATER SUPPLY AGREEMENT WITH CHINA

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THERE IS

NO EXPIRY DATE OF THE CURRENT AGREEMENT WITH CHINA CONCERNING THE SUPPLY OF WATER TO HONG KONG.

IN

THIS WAS STATED BY THE SECRETARY FOR WORKS, MR JAMES BLAKE, A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON ALLEN LEE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

THE YEARLY QUANTITIES HAVE BEEN AGREED UP TO YEAR 2000 AND THE DESIGNED MAXIMUM CAPACITY OF THE SUPPLY SYSTEM IS 1,100 MILLION CUBIC METRES A YEAR.

/"THE TWO