XN000022-1996-11-13 — Page 17

Reply:

(c)

Mr President,

6 -

whether the Government will draw up any guidelines on the operation of the Fund such that individual athletes or sports organisations can apply to the Fund on an equal footing?

Public donations to the HK Athletes Fund at present amounts to $4.08 million.

Government has already agreed to inject $8 million into the fund. We will continue to appeal for donations from the community, with the aim that the size of the fund should reach at least $16 million this financial year. While the Government currently has no plans to inject more money into the fund, we would be prepared to review the situation at a later date in the light of experience in running the fund.

In consultation with the Sports Development Board and other major sports organizations, we are currently drawing up detailed application procedures for the fund. These will be made public in due course.

End

Repeal of Women and Young Persons (Industry) Regulations

Following is a question by the Hon Chan Yuen-han and a reply by the Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Joseph W P Wong, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):

Question:

Regarding the Labour Advisory Board's recent endorsement of the Government's proposal to repeal the provisions in the Women and Young Persons (Industry) Regulations applying to women, will the Government inform this Council :

(a)

having regard to the fact that the provisions in section 4 of the Regulations were formulated for the purpose of implementing the Underground Work (Women) Convention (International Labour Convention No. 45) in Hong Kong, whether the present proposal to repeal the Regulations is in breach of the above Convention; if so, of the remedial measures which will be taken by the Government and the timetable for the implementation of such measures; and