3
The paper said a reasonable increase in rents would be acceptable.
"But if the authorities want the people to be psychologically prepared for the worst by saying that there will be a 50 per cent rent increase and then compromise by cutting it back to slightly below 50 per cent, people will not be agreeable," the paper said.
General
The Communist WEN WEI PO (October 14) said most people were not willing to move to estates in the New Territories because of the high transport expenses.
It urged the Government to provide tenants with cheap transport facilities.
Extension of Public Assistance and Labour_Conditions
KUNG SHEUNG EVENING NEWS (October 14) said it supported suggestions by some workers' unions that the Government should consult the workers before expanding the public assistance scheme.
It said that workers might not benefit from the expanded scheme at all if it was not managed properly.
"A more practical way of carrying out the scheme, we think, would be for the Government to announce details of the eligibility rules and the range of assistance that would be offered, so that those out of jobs would know what to expect," the paper said.
On the proposal to increase paid holidays for workers, KUNG SHEUNG DAILY NEWS (October 14) quoted people in the industrial sector as saying that such a move would place an additional burden on employers and slow down production, thus raising the costs of HK products and blunting Hong Kong's competitive edge over neighbouring countries.
They felt that it was not appropriate to increase paid holidays now, the paper said.
"We feel that to provide practical benefits for workers, the Government should
concentrate on working for better wages for them," the paper said.
"In addition to this, the Government should take concrete steps to introduce other benefits for workers, such as increased severance pay, sickness benefits and compensation for labourers suffering from silicosis and asbestosis," the paper said.
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