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Following is the transcript (English portion) of the remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, on the question about paternity leave after he attended a luncheon organised by the Women's Commission to celebrate International Women's Day 2010 today (March 8):
Reporter: When can the study that you are doing be completed? What are the criteria for you to consider extending the female maternity leave to men?
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: On the question about paternity leave, the Labour Department is conducting a study of overseas experience, in particular, the "dos" and "don't's". But at the end of the day, we need a consensus in the community before we can proceed. And also we have to strike a balance between the interests of the employers on the one hand and employees on the other, particularly bearing in mind that in Hong Kong, unlike other advanced economies, there is a very large number of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). So in introducing any measure, we have to be very careful about the impact on SMEs in particular. But in the meantime, the Labour Department has been promoting family-friendly employment practices and encouraging corporations, big and small, to consider offering and providing paternity leave to their employees, whether paid or unpaid.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript)
Ends/Monday, March 8, 2010
Issued at HKT 16:52
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