TEMPORARY TRADE UNIONS. THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD UNANIMOUSLY
OPPOSED THIS PROPOSAL WHICH WAS ALSO WIDELY CRITICISED BY BOTH
LABOUR AND MANAGEMENT. IN CONSEQUENCE, IT HAS BEEN DROPPED FROM
THE PRESENT BILL. UNQUOTE
MR. HETHERINGTON SAID THAT THE PROPOSAL TO WIDEN THE OFFENCE OF.
INTIMIDATION TO INCLUDE BLOCKING OR CAUSING AN OBSTRUCTION IN ANY
STREET OR ROAD HAD BEEN DROPPED BECAUSE EXISTING LEGISLATION IS NOW
CONSIDERED TO BE ADEQUATE TO DEAL WITH SUCH CONDUCT.
IT WAS NEVER
INTENDED THAT IT SHOULD BE DIRECTED AGAINST THE RIGHT TO PICKET
PEACEFULLY IN A LAW-ABIDING MANNER.
A THIRD PROPOSAL WHICH AROUSED CRITCISM FROM THE LABOUR
ADVISORY BOARD AND FROM THE PUBLIC WAS THE INCLUSION OF TWO
ADDITIONAL OFFENCES DISBARRING A MEMBER FROM BECOMING AN OFFICER OF
A TRADE UNION. CONCERN WAS EXPRESSED OVER THE LACK OF PRECISION
IN DESCRIBING THE OFFENCES THOSE AGAINST PUBLIC ORDER AND THOSE
INVOLVING VIOLENCE. AFTER CAREFUL CONSIDERATION OF ALL THE VIEWS
EXPRESSED, IT WAS DECIDED TO EXCUDE THESE TWO NEW OFFENCES.
HOWEVER, THE PROPOSAL TO REDUCE THE PERIOD OF DISBARRMENT FROM OFFICE
IN RESPECT OF EXISTING OFFENCES (IE, THOSE INVOLVING FRAUD,
DISHONESTY, EXTORTION OR MEMBERSHIP OF A TRIAD SOCIETY) FROM LIFE
TO FIVE YEARS WAS GENERALLY ENDORSED AND HAS THERFORE NOT BEEN
ALTERED.
QUOTE FINALLY, UNQUOTE SAID MR. HETHERINGTON, QUOTE THERE WAS
OPPOSITION IN SOME QUARTERS TO THE PROPOSAL TO PROHIBIT PICKETING
OF PRIVATE RESIDENCES USED SOLELY AS SUCH.UNQUOTE. QUOTE THIS
PROPOSAL REMAINS
IN THE BILL, UNQUOTE HE WENT ON,QUOTE BECAUSE, BEARING IN MIND THE
EXTENT OF MULTI-STORY HOUSING IN HONG KONG, IT IS CONSIDERED
UNREASONABLE TO PERMIT PICKETING OF A PRIVATE RESIDENCE OF EITHER
AN EMPLOYEE OR AN EMPLOYER, PARTICULARLY AS MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY
AND NEIGHBOURS MAY NOT BE INVOLVED IN ANY TRADE DISPUTE. UNQUOTE
7THE BILL
3
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