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Following is the transcript of remarks by the Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, on the wage claims by employees of DSC, after a meeting with the employees at Central Government Offices, Tamar, today (August 11):
Reporter: Would you explain when will be the earliest the DSC employees will be able to settle the unpaid wages?
Secretary for Labour and Welfare: I had a very good discussion with the employees' representatives. I expressed my sympathy with them, and I assured them that the Government, particularly the Labour Department, will do what it can to expedite the whole process so that they can get ex-gratia payment from the Protection of Wages on Insolvency Fund. We also explained the necessary legal procedures to follow, but we will certainly do the best we can to expedite the process. But essentially, this morning, we have got in touch with the legal representative of the proprietor concerned. The proprietor currently is under Police custody, but we have touched base with the lawyers to make sure that he would sign the inability to pay wages form (the Statement of Inability to Pay) to enable us to take the matter forward. Once he has signed the form, and also once he has recognised the outstanding amount owed to individual employees, we will then refer the employees concerned to the Legal Aid Department to secure legal aid and also to trigger the process of seeking a petition to wind up the company in a compulsory fashion. So all these will be in train very shortly, but much depends on when Mr Hui (the proprietor) sends back the signed form, confirming his inability to pay. We will make sure that the whole thing is done quickly and in the interest of the employees concerned.
(Please also refer to the Chinese portion of the transcript.)
Ends/Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Issued at HKT 15:27
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