Government Responds To Labour Day Demands

The Government says its has always tried to improve employee benefits and protection at a pace that matches Hong Kong's development. In a statement, it said it had to look at both workers' demands, and at what employers could afford.

It made the comment after a number of Labour Day marches on Tuesday to demand higher wages and shorter working hours.

The main demonstration was organised by the pro-government Federation of Trade Unions. A vice-chairman, Lee Che-kin, had said bosses must stop dipping into workers' pension funds for severance and long-service payments.

The Government said it had been following up on abolishing this offsetting arrangement under the Mandatory Provident Fund System, and that it is taking into account the views of business and labour.

It also pointed to its work on maternity and paternity leave and to the current review by the Minimum Wage Commission of the Statutory Minimum Wage rate.

The FTU said 5,000 people took part in the march from Wan Chai to government headquarters. Police put the figure at 1,900.

Hundreds of pro-democracy unionists staged their own protest demanding laws on standard working hours, a universal pension scheme and collective bargaining. The organiser, the Confederation of Trade Unions, accused the government of colluding with businesses. Various other groups also held Labour Day rallies, including people with disabilities and migrant workers and their supporters