XN000022-1994-11-23 — Page 24

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 1994

THIRDLY, CLAUSE 25 OF THE BILL RAISES THE LEVEL OF THE EXISTING PENALTIES FROM $5,000 PLUS SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT TO $200,000 SIX MONTHS' IMPRISONMENT. THIS INCREASE IS COMMENSURATE WITH THE SERIOUSNESS OF THE OFFENCE AND WILL BRING THE PENALTIES IN LINE WITH THOSE UNDER OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION, SUCH AS THE WASTE DISPOSAL ORDINANCE AND THE WATER POLLUTION CONTROL ORDINANCE.

MR PRESIDENT, THE BILL AIMS TO ENABLE EXISTING CONTROL ON DUMPING OF WASTE AT SEA TO CONTINUE AFTER 30 JUNE 1997. AT THE SAME TIME IT ADDRESSES DEFICIENCIES IN THE EXISTING CONTROL ARRANGEMENTS AND INCREASES PENALTIES. I COMMEND THE BILL TO MEMBERS FOR THEIR

FAVOURABLE CONSIDERATION.

THANK YOU, MR PRESIDENT.

EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL 1994 INTRODUCED

FOLLOWING IS THE SPEECH BY THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND MANPOWER, MR LAM WOON-KWONG, IN MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE EMPLOYMENT ( AMENDMENT) BILL 1994 IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

MR PRESIDENT,

1994.

1 MOVE THE SECOND READING OF THE EMPLOYMENT (AMENDMENT) BILL

THIS BILL SEEKS TO IMPROVE THE AMOUNT OF SEVERANCE PAYMENT AND LONG SERVICE PAYMENT FOR LONG SERVING WORKERS, AND TO RECTIFY SOME AMBIGUITIES IN THE PROVISIONS FOR MATERNITY LEAVE AND SICKNESS ALLOWANCE UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.

A BILL SKRVING SIMILAR PURPOSES WAS FIRST INTRODUCED INTO THIS COUNCIL ON 15 DECEMBER 1993. IT WAS DEFEATED AT ITS THIRD READING ON

6 JULY 1994. THE ADMINISTRATION UNDERTOOK TO CONSULT THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD AGAIN AND TO SUBMIT A NEW BILL TO THE COUNCIL AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THE PRESENT BILL INCORPORATES MODIFICATIONS TO THE PROPOSAL MADE IN THE PREVIOUS BILL IN RESPECT OF AMENDMENTS TO SEVERANCE PAYMENT AND LONG SERVICE PAYMENT PROVISIONS. THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD HAS ENDORSED THE REVISED PROPOSAL BY CONSENSUS.

AND

OF

AT PRESENT, AN EMPLOYEE'S ENTITLEMENT TO SEVERANCE PAYMENT LONG SERVICE PAYMENT IS CALCULATED AT THE RATE OF TWO-THIRDS OF A MONTH'S WAGES FOR EACH YEAR OF SERVICE, SUBJECT TO A MAXIMUM LIMIT 12 MONTHS' WAGES OR $180,000, WHICHEVER IS THE LESS. THIS ARRANGEMENT HAS THE EFFECT OF LIMITING THE RECKONABLE SERVICE OF AN EMPLOYEE TO 18 YEARS.

/TO ENABLE