CONFIDENTIAL
Social Services Branch
4.
Education Department
Revised forecasts show that (i) there will be sufficient places in Form I (first year secondary) by 1978/79 to meet demand; (ii) 80% of demand for Forms II and II places will be met by the same year; and (iii) 100% of demand for these Forms will be met by 1980/81, thus providing 297,000 places for all children in the Forms I-III age group.
5. Medical and Health Department
The long lead time in the building of new hospitals to overcome the present overcrowding and to cater for new towns renders quarterly processing unrealistic. The next new hospital, a mental hospital, is due for completion in 1979/80; the next new clinic in 1978/79. The use of camp beds in hospitals is due to be phased out by July 1977.
Labour Department
6.
7.
(i) Legislation
The drafting and introduction of legislation to improve labour conditions proceeds. The Overseas Labour Adviser has observed that particular attention should be paid to the progress of the draft Bills which will provide for seven days' paid holiday annually for all employees and for protection of wages by imposing a vicarious liability on principal contractors in the building and construction industry. The enactment of
this legislation will enable the Hong Kong Government to make improved declarations to the relevant ILO conventions.
(ii) ILO Conventions
Lord Goronwy-Roberts wrote to the Governor on 7 April about the Hong Kong Government's programme for the application of ILO Conventions this year. The programme provides for improved declarations to the following six conventions: no. 17 on Workmen's Compensation (Acceptance); no. 42 on Workmen's Compensation (Occupational Diseases) (Revised); no. 90 on Nightwork of Young Persons (Industry) (Revised); no. 92 on Accommodation of Crews (Revised), on which an improved declaratio has, in fact, already been made; no. 94 on Labour Clauses (Public Contracts), and no. 101 on Holidays with Pay
(Agriculture). The Governor has been asked to submit a progress report by 1 October.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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