TNAG-0573-FCO40-706-Monitoring-of-progress-made-on-planning-paper-on-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 72

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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1976

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MOREOVER, REV. MCGOVERN POINTED OUT THAT BETTER WORKING CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY MORE PAID HOLIDAYS, WOULD NOT NECESSARILY CAUSE ANY LOSS OF PROFITS.

+ON THE CONTRARY THE EFFECT OF SUCH BENEFITS ON THE WORK FORCE WILL MOST LIKELY RESULT IN BETTER HEALTH, BETTER MORALE, AND THEREFORE GREATER PRODUCTIVITY, + HE ADDED.

IN CONCLUSION, REV. MCGOVERN NOTED THAT IT WAS A GENERAL RULE ELSEWHERE THAT LABOUR LEGISLATION WAS USUALLY GEARED TO STANDARDS BELOW THE ACTUAL PRACTICE OF GOOD EMPLOYERS.

+GIVEN THE PECULIAR SITUATION OF HONG KONG, ESPECIALLY THE WEAKNESS OF ORGANISED LABOUR, I SUGGEST THAT PERHAPS WE NEED TO BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT.

+PERHAPS WE SHOULD THINK IN TERMS OF LEGISLATING, AT LEAST TO SOME EXTENT, TOWARDS STANDARDS MORE IN KEEPING WITH THOSE WHICH WOULD PREVAIL IF WE HAD MORE COMMONLY IN OUR COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS BETWEEN MANAGEMENT AND LABOUR, + HE SAID.

BILLS PASSED

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THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY (LAND RESUMPTION AND RELATED PROVISIONS) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, WHICH EXTENDS THE PERIOD FOR WHICH CLAIMS CAN BE MADE FOR COMPENSATION FOR PECUNIARY LOSS OR DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE CLOSURE OF A STREET BECAUSE OF WORK ON THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY, PASSED ITS COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING TODAY AND BECAME LAW.

THE NEW PROVISION ALSO COVERS LOSSES CAUSED BY SUBSTANTIAL ALTERATIONS TO A STREET AND EXTENDS THE PERIOD FOR WHICH CLAIMS CAN BE MADE TO ONE YEAR FROM THE RE-OPENING OR REINSTATEMENT OF THE STREET.

FIVE OTHER BILLS ALSO PASSED THEIR COMMITTEE STAGE AND THIRD READING TODAY IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

THEY ARE THE INDUSTRIAL TRAINING (CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976, THE BANKRUPTCY (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1976, THE DISTRICT COURT (AMENDMENT) (NO. 2) BILL 1976, THE LIMITATION (AMENDMENT) BILL 1976 AND THE PUBLIC HEALTH AND URBAN SERVICES (AMENDMENT) (NO. 4) BILL 1976.

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