TNAG-0607-FCO40-755-Monitoring-progress-made-on-planning-papers-on-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 143

(8) Labour Legislation

30

86.

Our last session was noticeable for the volume and

importance of labour legislation.

87.

For example:

Entitlement to holidays was radically improved. The number of

statutory, holidays was increased from 6 to 10; the number of annual

rest days was increased from 48 to 52; and provision was made for a

week's paid annual leave from 1978 onwards. The rate of severance

pay was increased from 1/3 to 1/2 a month's pay for each year of

service, and extended retrospectively to 1966.

Sickness allowance was increased from to 2/3 days pay with maximum

entitlement raised from 24 to 36 days.

The Employment Ordinance was amended to provide fuller protection of

wages.

In order to eradicate the employment of children in industry, the

maximum penalty for the offence was raised to $10,000 and this is

proving a more effective deterrent.

Overtine work by young person is being abolished by stages

ending in January 1980.

Your Government will introduce some more labour legislation

in the coming session:

The arrangements proposed last year to compensate workers suffering

from silicosis and asbestosis have taken much longer to work out

than we had hoped, but I expect a draft bill to be introduced

very shortly. Amendments to the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance

will be introduced:

To require employers to meet cuch fees as are charged

for medical attention to persons injured in the course of employ-

ment, and to require them to meet the cost of repair and

replacement of prothesis and surgical appliances.

/And to place...........