kakase/hk_gov_press_release huggingface dataset:
Results of Youth Employment and Training Programme Most Improved Trainees 2020 announced
18.12.2020

The Labour Department (LD) announced today (December 18) the results of the "Youth Employment and Training Programme (YETP) Most Improved Trainees (MITs) 2020" to recognise the 10 outstanding trainees who achieved significant improvements in personal development, leadership or work performance during the training period as well as to commend the caring efforts of service providers and employers. Moreover, 10 other trainees were awarded Merit Awards in recognition of their efforts in realising their career goals and dreams. Details of the awardees are in the Annexes. To publicise the services of the YETP and to showcase the real-life stories of the MITs, the LD and Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK) will jointly present a special TV programme, "A Boundless Future &ndash; YETP Most Improved Trainees". The TV programme depicts how the MITs earned recognition from their employers and service providers with their strong motivation and unbeatable spirit as well as dedication and self-breakthroughs at work. The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, also showed support for the MITs in the TV programme and encouraged young people to equip themselves and grasp every opportunity amidst adversity to realise their career goals. The two-episode TV programme will be broadcast on RTHK TV 31 on December 19 and 26 (consecutive Saturdays) from 8pm to 8.30pm. Enrolment for the YETP is free of charge on a year-round basis, without minimum academic qualification requirements. Services offered include pre-employment training, a one-month workplace attachment training, on-the-job salaried training for six to 12 months, and case management services provided by registered social workers. Trainees receive personalised career guidance, job search assistance and employment support. An off-the-job vocational training allowance and a retention allowance are also provided to eligible trainees. For details, please visit the YETP's website at www.yes.labour.gov.hk . The LD has also set up a Youth Employment Services hotline at 2112 9932 to provide a one-stop enquiry service regarding the programme and to receive registrations of training vacancies from employers.
Transcript of remarks by SLW on requiring staff of residential care homes to undergo compulsory testing
29.11.2020

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, on requiring staff of residential care homes to undergo compulsory testing after attending a radio programme this morning (November 29): Reporter: Secretary, eventually how would you make sure that these staff (members) maybe can get tested once a week and also what is the consequences this time if they don't have enough time to go to get tested? Would they be prevented from going to work? Secretary for Labour and Welfare: Under the current regulations, if they are required to do the COVID-19 test but they don't, they are violating the regulations and will have a penalty of $2,000 fine. They will also be given an order to do it within a given number of days and if they don't, the penalty will be even more severe. It will be like (a maximum penalty of) $25,000 and also imprisonment. So I really hope that the people will comply and do so. The idea is if it is needed and when the system works smoothly, definitely we will contemplate that for those who don't comply they should not be working. That is the instruction we will be giving to the residential service operators. We will see how it goes. Anyway, this is the first time. The aim is in the long run it will be once every week and also only those having a valid negative test result will be able to go back to work. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Transcript of remarks by SLW on $2 transport fare concession scheme and business restructuring of Cathay Group
24.10.2020

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, on $2 transport fare concession scheme and business restructuring of Cathay Group after attending a radio programme this morning (October 24): Reporter: Secretary, can you clarify if the Government is shelving the plan to extend the transport subsidy to those aged 60 and 64? Also explain the role of the Government in the CX sacking staff (inaudible)? Secretary for Labour and Welfare: I cannot get the second question but let me answer the first one. We are still working at full steam in examining the report from our consultant looking at the $2 transport fare concession scheme. Basically, what we have done is we have briefed the members of the Executive Council recently and then some of the members expressed their views. As the Government, we will definitely look at their views, analyse and examine the different options. We are still working on it. We have no plan of shelving it, although we cannot tell exactly at what time we can do it. Our current target is to attempt to implement the improvement of the various aspects of the scheme in the next financial year 2021-2022. Reporter: The second question is how is the Labour Department helping in this CX sacking incident? Secretary for Labour and Welfare: Definitely the most important part is how to resolve the difference between the employees and employers. For the Labour Department (LD), basically it is the gatekeeper of the Employment Ordinance to ensure that the employees have received the reasonable treatment as regards their own protections. The LD serves as a mediating agent, just in case they need the LD to intervene and mediate between employees and employers. They are all ready to do that. So far I guess most of the work is done directly between the unions and employers. Currently we are ready. Whenever needed, the LD will go to help. In other aspect, whenever there is any need for people to find jobs, the LD is ready there. So far we have not received many such requests, but they are coming. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
SLW visits specimen collection centre for COVID-19 testing service (with photos)
25.8.2020

The Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, visited the specimen collection centre at Harbour Road Sports Centre this afternoon (August 25) to learn more about the specimen collection process of the free COVID-19 testing service for foreign domestic helpers (FDHs). "I strongly encourage FDHs staying in boarding facilities to actively participate in the free test to safeguard their health, especially before they join their new employers' family. Employers are advised to check that their new FDHs have a valid negative test result before joining the family. Also, employment agencies are encouraged to help FDHs register for and take the test at the specimen collection centre," Dr Law said. As announced by the Labour Department on August 23, a COVID-19 testing service was launched for FDHs whose previous employment contracts have expired or terminated and who are waiting to join the new employers' family. The test is voluntary and free of charge. FDHs are eligible for the free combined nasal and throat swab testing service if their previous employment contracts have expired or terminated and they are waiting to join the new employers' family at the time of making the appointment for the testing service. Eligible FDHs are required to make a prior appointment by telephone and provide their specimens at a specified time slot at Harbour Road Sports Centre. As at noon today, 239 FDHs have made an appointment for taking the test. Eligible FDHs may dial the registration hotline 1836 133 (9am to 9pm daily) to make an appointment for specimen collection. Same-day appointment will not be offered by the registration hotline and any request without prior appointment will not be accepted. The specimen collection centre is located at Harbour Road Sports Centre, 27 Harbour Road, Wan Chai. It is open daily from 8.30am to 8pm and will operate until September 30.
Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 gazetted today
17.7.2020

The Government published the Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 2020 (Amendment Ordinance) in the Gazette today (July 17). The Amendment Ordinance seeks to increase the maternity leave (ML) under the Employment Ordinance (EO) (Cap. 57) by four weeks, which should be taken by the employee continuously after the 10 weeks' ML, if so entitled. The current statutory rate of maternity leave pay (MLP) (i.e. four-fifths of the employee's average daily wages) will be maintained for calculating the additional MLP in respect of the extension of the ML, subject to a cap of $80,000 per employee. The Amendment Ordinance also covers two technical amendments which include updating the definition of "miscarriage" under the EO from "before 28 weeks of pregnancy" to "before 24 weeks of pregnancy" to entitle a female employee whose child is incapable of survival after being born at or after 24 weeks of pregnancy to the ML if other conditions are met; and accepting a certificate of attendance issued by professionally trained persons as documentary proof for entitling an eligible employee to sickness allowance for any day on which the employee has attended a medical examination in relation to her pregnancy. "The Amendment Ordinance will come into operation on a day to be appointed by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare by notice published in the Gazette," a spokesman for the Government said. "Employers may apply to the Government for full reimbursement for the amount of additional MLP that is required to be paid and has been paid under the Amendment Ordinance, which will be done by way of an administrative scheme. The Government will announce the details in due course. "The Government is exploring the feasibility of earlier implementation of the Amendment Ordinance and would consult the Labour Advisory Board accordingly. We hope to implement the Amendment Ordinance towards the end of this year," the spokesman added.
Transcript of remarks by SLW on quarantine arrangement for foreign domestic helpers
27.6.2020

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, on quarantine arrangement for foreign domestic helpers after attending a radio programme this morning (June 27): Reporter: Why is the Government against the idea of subsidising the employers of foreign domestic helpers and also offering them quarantine facilities in Hong Kong? Secretary for Labour and Welfare: I can say that we really want to help, but any way which would encourage directly or indirectly the movement of domestic helpers from Hong Kong to their homeland or from their homeland back to Hong Kong is not consistent with our policy to restrict such movement to reduce the risk of spread of the virus. Our current policy is to try to minimise such movement, including allowing extension of contracts; extending the stay of those who have ended their contract so that they can find a new employer here in Hong Kong; and also for those who are between contracts - they can stay in Hong Kong without the need of requiring them to go back to their homeland. These are the policy strategies that try to restrict the movement of domestic helpers from Hong Kong to and from their homeland. Any other measures, although we would like to help, if that would encourage such movement, that would be inconsistent with our anti-epidemic measures. I have to plead to employers and employment agencies that the existing policy is to facilitate domestic helpers here now in Hong Kong to continue to stay either by way of extending their contract or finding a new employer. That is our basic objective. Reporter: How many domestic helpers will arrive in Hong Kong in the next month? Secretary for Labour and Welfare: We do not have very accurate information in recent months, because we do not actually differentiate their status - whether they are domestic helpers or not. If they are having a valid visa or a working permit, then they would be treated as Hong Kong residents. So we do not have up-to-date figures. As you know, we have around 400 000 foreign domestic helpers here in Hong Kong. Every contract is about two years. On average we would have around 500 foreign domestic helpers coming in Hong Kong every day in a normal period. Because of the measures we have taken so far, the number of people who have actually come back from the Philippines to Hong Kong in the past one month is only around 1 700, which is a very small number. But if we provide such facilitation that directly or indirectly encourages them to come, that number will jump up very quickly. Every day we will have about two to three flights from Manila. We would expect 500 of them every day. Within 14 days, we would have 7 000. That is a very large number. We would not have sufficient quarantine facilities to house this group of people just from the Philippines. This is the concern. The primary consideration is our anti-epidemic strategies to help or protect our citizens in Hong Kong. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Transcript of remarks by SLW and USLW on USLW assuming office (with photo/video)
1.6.2020

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, and the Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Ho Kai-ming, on Mr Ho's assumption of office this morning (June 1): Reporter: The Government has once again appointed two new secretaries coming from the pro-government camp, Mr Ho yourself included. Do you feel your appointment has anything to do with the Government's favouritism, as some critics have said? How would you convince the public that you are fit for this job? Secondly, as a former legislator, you have questioned the Secretary Mr Law's policies in the Council and also had a few spats with him in the past. So, how would you describe your relationship with your current boss? Are you confident that you could work well with him? Thirdly, with unemployment reaching a new high recently, do you have any thoughts or any plans about how to bring down unemployment in the coming months? Will the Government consider rolling out a third round of relief measures for the city's workers? Secretary for Labour and Welfare: I would reply the last question. You leave it to me. Under Secretary for Labour and Welfare: When we are in different positions, we would have different points of view to certain people or certain policies, but in the new position in the Government, I will try my best to learn from the Secretary to make good policies. I will bring the concerns of the trade unions and employees to the Government to deepen the discussion for policies. Secretary for Labour and Welfare: Leave it to me for the last one. We have not excluded the possibility to have the third round of the Anti-epidemic Fund (AEF). However, at this particular juncture, the most important part is to carry out the proposals that we have made earlier to the Legislative Council Finance Committee, that is AEF 2.0. In particular, the Employment Support Scheme (ESS) has just been rolled out. We will wait and see the effects and its impact on the economy and also on the labour market, and then decide on what the second tranche of the ESS would be, so it's too early to say whether there will be a third round. Definitely, we hope that the epidemic will die down soon and the economy will soon pick up, and there will be hopefully no need for the third round. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Transcript of remarks by SLW on Employment Support Scheme and national security
23.5.2020

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, on the Employment Support Scheme and national security after attending a radio programme this morning (May 23): Reporter: You said that no extra fines would be claimed from the bosses if they don't use the entire government wage subsidy for paying wages, so could you explain how it is going to deter them from taking advantage of the system? Could you also explain how you think about the national security law? Do you think this will affect the employment scene in Hong Kong? Secretary for Labour and Welfare: The applicants of the Employment Support Scheme have two commitments (undertakings). One commitment is not to implement any redundancy during the period that they receive the government wage subsidy, that is in June, July and August 2020 for the first tranche. The second commitment they have to make is that the money that they receive from the government as the wage subsidy will be all spent on the wages of their staff. But for the first tranche, for the sake of providing clear understanding of the rules and calculations, we have made it very clear that, if the money that we have given to the employers have not been totally spent on the wages, the difference (unspent balance of subsidy) will be clawed back. If the number of paid employees in June, July and August is less than the number of employees in March, there will be a penalty based on the percentage of reduction in staff number and also depending on the size of the company. But as I said, there are two commitments and both commitments are basically in principle "no redundancy". We haven't yet decided on the eligibility and rules for the second tranche, which is for September to November. There is a high probability that, if people cannot comply with their commitments they have made during the (first tranche) applications, they may not have the opportunity to apply for the second tranche. We will wait and see how it will happen, but the rules for the first tranche have been fixed and the applications will start next Monday (May 25). As for the possible implication of the Central Government's decision, it is too early to say anything. We have to wait and see what the details of the provisions are, the process, the concerns of the people of Hong Kong and how they are addressed. This point of time is too early to comment on the impact on the economy. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Intercountry Adoption (Contracting States) (Amendment) Order 2020 gazetted
22.5.2020

The Intercountry Adoption (Contracting States) (Amendment) Order 2020 (Amendment Order) made by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare under section 20D of the Adoption Ordinance (Cap. 290) was published in the Gazette today (May 22). The Amendment Order seeks to add eight Contracting States to the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (Convention) to the Schedule to the Intercountry Adoption (Contracting States) Order (Cap. 290 sub. leg. C) so that the Convention applies to an adoption between the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and any of these eight Contracting States in relation to an application made under the Convention. The eight Contracting States are the Republic of Benin, the Republic of C&ocirc;te d'Ivoire, the Republic of Ghana, the Coâoperative Republic of Guyana, the Republic of Honduras, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Namibia and the Republic of Zambia. In accordance with the Convention, the Convention has effect between the HKSAR and these eight Contracting States since the following dates: The Republic of Benin October 1, 2018 The Republic of C&ocirc;te d'Ivoire October 1, 2015 The Republic of Ghana January 1, 2017 The Coâoperative Republic of Guyana June 1, 2019 The Republic of Honduras July 1, 2019 The Kyrgyz Republic November 1, 2016 The Republic of Namibia January 1, 2016 The Republic of Zambia October 1, 2015 The Convention sets out, inter alia, a framework for international coâoperation in intercountry adoptions. The implementation of the Convention in the HKSAR is governed by the Adoption Ordinance. The Convention is currently in force in 102 states.
Transcript of remarks by SLW on Employment Support Scheme
19.5.2020

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, on the Employment Support Scheme after attending a radio programme this morning (May 19): Reporter: Mr Law, the Government is going to announce the fresh round of unemployment figures. If indeed the figures are worse or stabilise, would the government consider more help for those who actually lost their jobs? Secretary for Labour and Welfare: It is premature for me this morning to say anything about the unemployment figures (to be released this afternoon), but definitely we will be closely monitoring the unemployment situation. That is the basic purpose of having this Employment Support Scheme &ndash; to help employers keep their staff; so for those who might have been made redundant already without this support &ndash; to reduce such redundancy, to keep our people active in their employment. That is the main purpose of the Employment Support Scheme. For the Government, definitely we have to look at the macro situation and see how the economy will develop in the coming days, and if there is any need for additional measures that the Government should take, then definitely the Government will seriously consider. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Transcript of remarks by SLW on anti-epidemic measures and Employment Support Scheme
9.4.2020

Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Dr Law Chi-kwong, on anti-epidemic measures and the Employment Support Scheme (ESS) after attending a radio programme this morning (April 9): Reporter: Dr Law, can you explain what sort of measures will be put in place to make sure employers won't lay off staff after they get the subsidy for salary? Secretary for Labour and Welfare: The two conditions for the wage subsidy under the ESS are basically, one, they have to maintain the same headcount; secondly, all the fund that they receive for the wage subsidy should be given to the staff. So, if they have redundancy, which basically means they have a reduction in headcount, then the money will be clawed back and there will be some penalties. The details will be announced later. Reporter: But does it involve a lot of manpower to actually check the companies? Secretary for Labour and Welfare: We are not checking on individual employee. We are checking on the headcount. Headcount is just counting the numbers and that should not be an enormous amount of administration work. Reporter: In this round of assistance, why didn't the Government decide to assist all businesses, instead of just businesses which have been forced to make their employees go on unpaid leave? According to lawmaker the Dr Hon Fernando Cheung, that will actually help save a lot of money for the Government. Secretary for Labour and Welfare: If we are to examine the conditions of a particular company or employer before we provide the wage subsidy, that will take a lot of administration work and actually, we have to employ a lot of people to look at each individual transaction history of each employer. That will take a very long time and very heavy administration cost. Looking at the epidemic right now &ndash; its impact on almost all industries with some exceptions, it is very important for us to launch the programme as soon as possible. It is key to make it quickly so it must be quite simple. Otherwise, a very complex system requiring a long time to set up would not serve our present purpose. (Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)