24. The existence of statutory limits on the hours of overtime which may be worked by women and young persons has been mentioned in paragraph 6. It is intended shortly to submit to the Legislative Council Regulations which will reduce the maximum permissible overtime for women and young persons. type of reduction envisaged is from 300 to 250 hours a year from the beginning of 1975, and a further reduction to 200 hours in 1976.
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25. There are also two other important items of legislation; one existing and one projected. The Labour Tribunal, which was set up on 1 March 1973 by the Ordinance of the same name, proved to be an immediate success. In 1974. a second Tribunal was established and the Labour Tribunal Ordinance, which initially had only a limited life has now been made permanent. Tribunals deal with individual claims for sums of money arising
The from a contract of employment. They are not concerned with group disputes or collective bargaining with management. Labour Relations Bill has been drafted which will inter alia repeal the Illegal Strikes and Lock-outs Ordinance, and is being circulated in Hong Kong for local discussion. It is designed to provide statutory backing for the Labour Relations Service of the Labour Department and to introduce procedures for the settlement of labour disputes where conciliation has failed. As now drafted, the Bill does not provide for the imposition of compulsory settlements.
The Labour Advisory Board
26. The Labour Advisory Board advises the Commissioner for Labour on labour matters including new or revised legislation referred by him to the Board. Members are appointed by the Governor at the beginning of each calendar year and serve for 12 months.. The Commisssioner acts as the ex officio chairman. It comprises four representatives of employers and four representatives of employees. Two representatives of employers and two of employees are nominated by the Governor. The Employers' Federation of Hong Kong and the Federation of Hong Kong Industries are each invited to nominate one representative. Two representatives of employees are elected in a secret ballot in which registered workers' unions are invited to take part. The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions has decided not to participate in these elections. A representative of the Armed Forces attends as an observer.
V. Social Welfare and Social Security
Public Assistance
27. There have been important advances in recent years in the relief of poverty, most important perhaps the introduction in 1971 of full government responsibility for public assistance by means of cash payments to replace relief in kind. number of family units in receipt of public assistance is
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