TNAG-0321-FCO40-357-Effect-of-1971-UK-Immigration-Bill-on-entry-of-Chinese-from--1971 — Page 17

N

Friday, June 25, 1971

A second amendment requires an employer to be responsible for

the payment of stamp duty payable for any contract, bond, or guarantee

entered into by him.. This is the normal practice but it is considered

desirable that a statutory liability should be imposed.

The third amendment authorizes the Commissioner of labour in

person to refuse to attest a contract if he is satisfied that the terms

are unfair to the worker or do not adequately protect his interest.

At present, the Commissioner has no powers to refuse to attest

a contract which satisfies the provisions of the ordinance.

Occasionally, a grossly unfair contract is presented for attestation

and this has led in the past to complications over repatriating a worker

who has found the conditions intolerable ard the maintenance of his dependants ·

in Hong Kong at public expenso until he returns.

It is not expected that the powers will be used frequently but it is

considered that the Commissioner of Labour should be permitted to intervene

before such a contract is finalized.

The Commissioner of Labour will introduce the bill into the

Legislative Council at its next sitting on July 7.

13