Some 65% of the 31,763 disputes and claims handled by the Labour Department in the first 11 months of the year have been resolved through conciliation, a record figure since the Asian financial crisis in 1997.

Permanent Secretary for Economic Development & Labour Matthew Cheung said the figures fell by 1,309 or 4% compared with 33,072 in the same period last year.

The second quarter of this year, when SARS broke out, was the most difficult period as far as labour relations are concerned, Mr Cheung said.

The department handled 141 disputes in that single quarter, an increase of 40% compared with 101 in the first quarter or 53% against the same period last year.

In the same period, the department recorded only one strike and the number of working days lost per 1,000 salaried workers and wage earners was 0.05 - one of the lowest in the world.

To strengthen tripartite co-operation between the Government, employers and employees, the department has established the Labour Advisory Board and helped industries to set up their tripartite committees.

They comprise representatives from employer associations, trade unions and the department.

Nine committees have been set up in catering, retailing, hotel and tourism, concrete and cement, construction, property management, printing, warehouse and cargo transport and theatre industries.

The Government will cater for new industries at an appropriate time to strengthen the network and function of the tripartite committees.

The Warehouse & Cargo Transport Tripartite Committee will soon be transformed into a logistics tripartite committee to facilitate the development of the industry.