Call to protect benefits

The Association of Assistants to Legislative Councillors of Hong Kong will today urge Tung Chee-hwa's independent commission to secure its members' fringe benefits after the handover.

The commission, headed by a pro-China businessman, Wong Po-yan, is expected to recommend pay rates for executive and legislative councillors after July 1.

The association's president, Richard Tsoi Yiu-cheong, said most legislators' assistants had to work long hours, but their rights and fringe benefits were not protected. For example, they received no compensation for overtime work and most lacked medical benefits.

Mr Tsoi said the SAR government should improve their conditions when determining legislators' subsidies.