TNAG-0573-FCO40-706-Monitoring-of-progress-made-on-planning-paper-on-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 63

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SING TAO WAN PAO (October 28) described the proposal as "reasonable" and called on the authorities to give it serious consideration.

WAH KIU MAN PO (October 29) supported the proposal, saying that the lack of a provident fund system was unfair to employees and that it had also delayed the retirement of older workers, thus preventing the younger ones from taking over their jobs.

WORKERS' BENEFITS

Four papers commented on proposals for increasing benefits for workers, including the introduction of seven days' paid holidays a year.

WAH KIU YAT PO (October 28) said an increase in benefits for workers should be supported but it shared the view of Legislative Councillor Mr. James Wu that too many benefits would greatly harm Hong Kong's flexibility and cost it many orders and jobs.

"The authorities should review the problem carefully to ensure that interests. of both employers and employees will be safeguarded," the paper said.

In another editorial (October 29), the paper said that 17 Unofficial Legislative Councillors who had spoken in the Council meetings on October 27 and 28 unanimously supported proposals for introducing seven days' paid holidays a year for workers.

"Theoretically, there is nothing wrong with providing more benefits for workers. But we agree with Councillor Mr. Chen Shou-lum that what workers need is better social benefits and not more paid holidays," the paper said.

"The authorities should give top priority to providing medical services for workers because most workers always worry that their family's livelihood will be affected if they fall sick," it added.

The paper also felt that the setting up of a central provident fund would be welcomed by workers more enthusiastically than paid holidays.

SING TAO JIH PAO (October 29) discussed the factors that had led to the present economic and social situation in Britain.

It said the views expressed by Mr. Leung Tat-shing and the Rev. Fr. Patrick McGovern on benefits for workers together with Mr. Henry Hu's suggestions on public housing, were basically those of the British Labour Party.