Annual Report 2013-14

16 FHKI Annual Report 2013-14 Other Local Issues On political reform, the FHKI’s Committee on Constitutional Development met in March 2014 to discuss the “Consultation Document on the Methods for Selecting the Chief Executive in 2017 and for Forming the Legislative Council in 2016”. We will further solicit members’ views before handing in our submission to the Government. In the past year, the FHKI also put forth submissions in response to other consultations and legislative proposals that might affect industries. These included: • Stage 2 Public Engagement on Enhancing Land Supply Strategy: by reclamation outside Victoria Harbour and rock cavern development; • Inland Revenue (Amendment) Bill 2013; • Stamp Duty (Amendment) Bill 2013; and • Legislative Proposals on Improvement of Corporate Insolvency Law. Mainland Issues The FHKI has closely monitored regulatory changes in the Mainland and their implications for Hong Kong manufacturers operating there. The major issues on our radar in the year included: • In February 2013, the National Development and Reform Commission issued an amended version of “Guiding Catalogue for the Adjustment of Industrial Structure”. Cyanide electroplating process was one of the processes that would be phased out in 2014. The Commission suggested that the industries should use gold potassium citrate electroplating process as substitute. As various research institutes found that gold potassium citrate is in fact a toxic chemical, the FHKI wrote to the relevant Mainland authorities for clarification and sought assistance from the HKSAR Government as well. Eventually, the Commission announced in September 2013 that the phasing out of cyanide electroplating would be suspended. • The “InterimMeasures on the Administration of the Collection and Payment of Trade Union Fund of the Guangdong Province” came into effect in July 2013. The FHKI reflected to the Guangdong Provincial Federation of Trade Unions and the Department of Human Resources and Social Security of Guangdong respectively the serious concerns of Hong Kong manufacturers on the measures. Subsequently, the Provincial Federation of Trade Unions made adjustment to the measures, including a revision of the calculation method of payments and the need for the trade unions to seek approval from the respective enterprises for using the fund. • Regarding the Regulations of Guangdong Province on the Collective Contracts of Enterprises (Revised Draft), the FHKI urged the Guangdong authority to shelve the legislation. Amidst labour shortage and with the protection of minimum wage, the proposed legislation is totally unnecessary. Hong Kong manufacturers are very concerned that the proposal would worsen the relations between employees and employers, as well as affect operational flexibilities of enterprises. Operational Review // Advocacy for the Industries Secretary for Constitutional and Mainland Affairs Raymond Tam (second from left) and Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development Gregory So (second from right) solicited FHKI members’ views on political reform. 政制及內地事務局局長譚志源（左二）和商務及經濟發展局局長蘇錦樑（右二）聆聽 工總會員就政改提出的意見。 FHKI delegates met with Chairman of Guangdong Provincial Federation of Trade Unions Huang Yebin (third from left, front row) to discuss the collection of trade union fund. 工總代表拜訪廣東省總工會主席黃業斌（前排左三），討論工會費收繳事宜。