XN000022-1995-04-19 — Page 62

(b)

(c)

(d)

- 47.

According to a survey in 1994, the five-and-a-half-day working week is still very common in the private sector in Hong Kong. 31% of private sector companies require their office staff to work five and a half days a week and a further 21% of companies require their employees to work five and a half days or six days every other week. We remain of the view that the Government should follow rather than lead private sector practice. We also believe that many of the people we serve continue to expect government offices to be open on Saturdays.

A regular study/review is in fact carried out by the Pay Survey and Research Unit of the Standing Commission on Civil Service Salaries and Conditions of Service when it conducts its regular fringe benefit surveys into private sector practice. We will continue to monitor the findings and will review the situation if and when the five-day working week becomes the norm in the private sector.

We are aware that there are certain companies in the territory adopting a five-day working week. However as pointed out above, a five-day working week is not yet a community norm.

End/Wednesday, April 19, 1995

Finding of anti-collision equipment to vehicles

Following is a question by Dr the Hon Conrad Lam Kui-shing and a written reply by the acting Secretary for Transport, Mr Rafael Hui, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

According to the findings of a survey, vehicles with anti-collision equipment installed in the front will cause more serious injury to pedestrians as well as more severe damage to other vehicles in a traffic accident. As the number of vehicles installed with anti-collision equipment is on the increase, will the Government inform this Council whether:

(a)

the Transport Department has granted approval for the installation of anti-collision equipment in vehicles during the past three years; if so, how many approvals have been granted and what are the reasons and guidelines for granting such approvals;