TNAG-2858-FCO40-4112-Public-holidays-in-Hong-Kong-1993 — Page 14

CONFIDENTIAL

ADDITIONAL HOLIDAYS

機密

16.

It is also

appropriate

to consider whether any

additional holidays, other than those discussed above,

should be introduced in or before 1997.

17.

In many countries

International

noliday.

Labour

in the world, including China,

Day, 1 May is recognised as

Over the years, there have been calls by trade

unions for 1 May to be adopted as a statutory holiday in

Hong Kong.

At present,

(Cap. 57) employees may,

take one Of their two

under the Employment Ordinance

with their employer's consent,

'floating holidays' on 1 May, As

1 May is a holiday in China, there will be strong

expectation by workers that it should also be declared a

holiday in Hong Kong.

18.

However, We do

not believe it to be expedient at

this opening stage to propose adopting 1 May as a holiday

in and after 1997, but would rather leave it to the Chinese

to

suggest should they so wish. One of the Liberation Day

holidays, of one of the two floating holidays could then be

considered for exchange with 1 May.

demands for declaring 1 May as

There is already adequate

adequate provision

utilise one

Nor do we support he

holiday before 1997.

for an employee to

of his floating holidays' to

celebrate

International Labour Day should he wish to do so, and with

the agreement of his employer.

CONFIDENTIAL ##