Tag Archives: China

     The Government published the Employment (Amendment) Bill 2018 in the Gazette today (June 15).

     “The Bill seeks to increase statutory paternity leave from the existing three days to five days under the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57), while other features of the PL regime would remain unchanged,” said a spokesperson for the Labour Department (LD).

     “The proposed Bill is based on the outcome of a review of the implementation of statutory paternity leave and has been supported by the Labour Advisory Board and the Legislative Council Panel on Manpower. It would help male employees better discharge their family responsibilities around the time of their children’s birth.”

     The spokesperson added that the Government had, in formulating the legislative proposal, taken into account the views of employees, the affordability of employers including small and medium enterprises, and the operation of paternity leave since 2015. If the Bill can be passed quickly by the Legislative Council, parents-to-be will be able to enjoy the improvement at an earlier time.

     The Bill will be introduced into the Legislative Council on June 20. read more

     The Government announced today (June 15) an in-situ land exchange with the Sailors Home and Mission to Seafarers (the Mission) for the redevelopment of the Mariners’ Club at Tsim Sha Tsui to enable the continued provision of welfare services to seafarers.
 
     The current site of the Mariners’ Club at 11 Middle Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, was acquired by the Mission through land exchange on full market value in 1965. Over the years, the Mariners’ Club has been providing, at its own cost, affordable accommodation and a range of other welfare services to transiting seafarers and their family members. With time, the facilities at the Mariners’ Club have deteriorated and become outdated, making it difficult for the Mission to sustain its services to seafarers. 
 
     With the approved in-situ land exchange, the Mission, upon settlement of the premium, can identify a development partner to redevelop the site into a composite building with a new Mariners’ Club on the lower levels and a commercial hotel on the upper levels. The redevelopment will allow the Mission to modernise the facilities of the Mariners’ Club for the continued provision of affordable welfare services to seafarers.
 
     A spokesman for the Transport and Housing Bureau said, “The redevelopment will support Hong Kong’s maritime industry and tourism development by providing the much needed welfare facilities for seafarers as well as bolstering the supply of hotel rooms in a key tourism district. The redevelopment can maximise the potential of the site and uphold Hong Kong’s status as a major international port and tourist destination.”
 
     It is an international common practice for major ports to provide seafarers, who are away from home for prolonged periods at sea, with social and welfare services and onshore facilities that typically include affordable accommodation of reasonable standard and other leisure facilities. In Hong Kong, such support services are provided by the Mission, which is a non-profit organisation incorporated in 1930 under the Sailors Home and Mission to Seafarers Incorporation Ordinance (Cap. 1042). read more

The following is issued on behalf of the Hospital Authority:      The Hospital Authority (HA) spokesperson today (June 15) said that 12 of its general out-patient clinics (see table below) will provide services in the coming Tuen… read more

Attention TV/radio announcers: Please broadcast the following as soon as possible: Here is an item of interest to swimmers.      The Leisure and Cultural Services Department announced today (June 15) that due to big wa… read more

     The Government started the recruitment under the Member Self-recommendation Scheme for Youth today (June 15).  The application period will close on July 16.        Chief Secretary for A… read more