XN000022-1994-05-19 — Page 12

THURSDAY, MAY 19, 1994

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ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL DEPARTMENT FORMS CUSTOMER GROUP

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THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT HAS FORMED CUSTOMER LIAISON GROUP TO STEP UP ITS COMMUNICATION WITH THE PUBLIC AND CUSTOMERS.

THIS FOLLOWS THE LAUNCHING OF THE PERFORMANCE PLEDGE BY THE DEPARTMENT IN JANUARY THIS YEAR.

THE GROUP IS CHAIRED BY CHIEF ENGINEER, MR YUEN SIU-SING, AND COMPRISES 15 MEMBERS FROM RELEVANT ORGANISATIONS AND RESIDENTS FROM VARIOUS DISTRICTS.

THE GROUP HELD ITS FIRST MEETING THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON.

AT THE MEETING, MEMBERS WERE BRIEFED ON THE STRUCTURE OF THE DEPARTMENT AND THE VARIOUS SERVICES IT PROVIDES TO THE COMMUNITY.

THIS WAS FOLLOWED BY DISCUSSIONS ON

AND COMMENTS RAISED BY THE MEMBERS.

CONSTRUCTIVE SUGGESTIONS

THE DIRECTOR OF ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES, MR HUGH PHILLIPSON, ALSO ATTENDED THE MEETING.

THE GROUP WILL CONTINUE TO MEET QUARTERLY.

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MAXIMUM FINE IMPOSED FOR UNREPORTED OVERTIME WORK

FACTORY EMPLOYERS MUST COMPLY WITH LABOUR LEGISLATION AND REFRAIN FROM ENGAGING WOMEN IN WORK OUTSIDE THEIR NORMAL PERMITTED PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT,

THEY SHOULD SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS OF OVERTIME WORK FOR WOMEN WORKERS TO THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IF THEY WISH TO ENGAGE WOMEN TO WORK OVERTIME.

THE PARK'N SHOP LIMITED IN SHEUNG SHUI WAS RECENTLY GIVEN THE MAXIMUM FINE OF $10,000 BY A FANLING MAGISTRATE FOR ENGAGING 19 WOMEN IN UNREPORTED OVERTIME WORK.

THE OFFENCE WAS UNCOVERED BY LABOUR INSPECTORS DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION TO THE FACTORY IN DECEMBER LAST YEAR.

A LABOUR OFFICER (PROSECUTIONS), MISS KATHERINE TSANG, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THAT UNDER THE WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS ( INDUSTRY) REGULATIONS, IT WAS AN OFFENCE FOR AN EMPLOYER ΤΟ CHANGE THE PRESCRIBED WORKING HOURS OF WOMEN IN INDUSTRY OR TO ENGAGE THEM IN OVERTIME WORK, WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT BEFOREHAND.

"THE LAW ALSO REQUIRES THE EMPLOYER TO DISPLAY IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE

IN

THE FACTORY A PRESCRIBED NOTICE SETTING OUT THE PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT, INTERVALS FOR MEALS OR REST, AND REST DAY FOR WOMEN WORKERS, MISS TSANG SAID,

/"EMPLOYERS SHOULD