Holidays (1997 and 1998) Ordinance

A Bill

To

Provide for special holidays during 1997 and for general holidays in 1998 and incidental matters.

Enacted by the Provisional Legislative Council.


1.    Short title and commencement

      (1)      This Ordinance may be cited as the Holidays (1997 and 1998) Ordinance.
      (2)      This Ordinance comes into operation on 1 July 1997.


2.      Holidays in 1997

      (1)      The days set out in Schedule 1 are additional statutory holidays for 1997 for the purposes of the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57). An employer must grant a holiday to an employee for each of the additional statutory holidays in accordance with section 39 of the Employment Ordinance.
      (2)      The days set out in Schedule 2 are additional general holidays for 1997 for the purposes of the Holidays Ordinance (Cap. 149).
      (3)      Items (n) and (o) of the Schedule to the Holidays Ordinance (Cap. 149) are suspended for 1997.


3.      General holidays for 1998

      (1)      The Schedule to the Holidays Ordinance (Cap. 149) is suspended for 1998.
      (2)      The days set out in Schedule 3 are the general holidays for 1998 for the purposes of the Holidays Ordinance (Cap. 149).



SCHEDULE 1      [s. 2(1)]


Additional Statutory Holidays for 1997

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment DayTuesday1 July 1997
The day following the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment DayWednesday2 July 1997
National DayWednesday1 October 1997

SCHEDULE 2      [s. 2(2)]


Additional General Holidays for 1997

Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment DayTuesday1 July 1997
The day following the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment DayWednesday2 July 1997
Sino-Japanese War Victory DayMonday18 August 1997
National DayWednesday1 October 1997
The day following National DayThursday2 October 1997

SCHEDULE 3      [s. 3(2)]


General Holidays for 1998

Every Sunday
The first week day in JanuaryThursday1 January
Lunar New Year's DayWednesday28 January
The second day of the Lunar New YearThursday29 January
The third day of the Lunar New YearFriday30 January
The day following the Ching Ming FestivalMonday6 April
Good FridayFriday10 April
The day following Good FridaySaturday11 April
Easter MondayMonday13 April
Tuen Ng FestivalSaturday30 May
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Establishment DayWednesday1 July
Sino-Japanese War Victory DayMonday17August
National DayThursday1 October
The day following National DayFriday2 October
The day following the Mid-Autumn FestivalMonday5 October
Chung Yeung FestivalWednesday28 October
Christmas DayFriday25 December
First weekday following Christmas DaySaturday26 December



Explanatory Memorandum


          This Bill provides for special holidays during 1997 to celebrate the establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and to celebrate the Sino-Japanese War Victory and the National Day. (Clause 2). The intention of clause 2(1) is to ensure that 14 paid days of leave are granted for 1997 under the Employment Ordinance (Cap. 57).

2.      Clause 3 also provides the list of general holidays for the purpose of the Holidays Ordinance (Cap. 149) for 1998. 		  


(Members of the public are welcome to express their views on the Bills, by writing to the Provisional Legislative Council Secretariat at 3/F, Huaxia Art Centre, No. 1 Guangqiao Street, Overseas Chinese Town, Shenzhen)