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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, after the Labour Day reception today (April 26):
Reporter: ¡K¡K the latest schedule of the negotiating meeting?
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: We are doing our very best in liaising with all parties concerned. We are actually shuttling among various parties with the objective of reconvening the fourth round of negotiating meeting. We have also secured the assurance of Global Stevedoring Services, the outgoing contractor who is going to cease business by the end of this month, that all the statutory rights and benefits of the employees would be fully protected and we will make sure that they are duly paid up.
Reporter: There are still two contractors absent in the meeting. What is the next plan ¡K¡K
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: We will certainly invite these two contractors. If at the end of the day, they do not come, they have not come all along, then my advice to the workers concerned and the union concerned is to take a pragmatic attitude, get back to the negotiating table with Everbest Port Services, the willing contractor who is very keen to resolve the issue with the employees sitting across the table. This particular contractor has full sincerity in reaching a deal.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Friday, April 26, 2013
Issued at HKT 20:21
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