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Transcript of remarks by SLW
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Following is the transcript of remarks (English portion) by the Secretary for Labour and Welare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, at a media stand-up after the Labour Day reception today (April 28):

Reporter:¡@..... against the epidemic?

Secretary for Labour and Welfare: I think the important thing is to be extra careful on hygiene. Personal hygiene and workplace hygiene are equally important. If employees do not feel well, develop symptoms of sickness, the employers should be compassionate, to be flexible, to give employees sick leave and plenty of rest because it is important to make sure that the diseases do not spread.

Reporter: Would you advise seven days of sick leave?

Secretary for Labour and Welfare: It depends on circumstances. It all depends on the gravity of the situation. It is very difficult to have a rule-of-thumb sort of arrangement. It much depends on the seriousness of the employee¡¦s illness and also the nature of the workplace.

Reporter: How would you assess the economic impact of the flu on Hong Kong?

Secretary for Labour and Welfare: It is early to say. It is very difficult to predict but we must be vigilant because if it really hits Hong Kong at the end of the day, then it will certainly affect the economy, affect tourism, affect people and so on. It will also impact on service industry. We have to be extra careful and the starting point is personal hygiene.
 
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)

Ends/Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Issued at HKT 20:52

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