Ref.
No. ES/COE/ADM (53)
COPY
Miss S.A. Ogilvie
'Ministry of Overseas Development
Eland House
.Stag Place
LONDON S.W.1.
22/6/2
Labour Department
22A Ice House Street Electric House Hong Kong.
3rd February 1968.
Dear Miss Ogilvie,
On his return to Hong Kong, David Alexander told me that when he saw you recently you raised a query as to why the Hong Kong Contracts for Overseas Employment Ordinance explicitly excludes from its provisions "persons proceeding to the United Kingdom for the purpose of employment there who are in possession of a current voucher; issued for the purposes of section 2 of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962 by or on behalf of the appropriate authority in the United Kingdom."
2.
I have had to do some research into this matter and find that it was the subject of correspondence between Mr. Sedgwick and Mr. Watson of the Colonial Office. In particular Mr. Watson, in his letter of 23rd June 1964 (reference number SSB 282/51/03) commented that the draft which had been referred to him was not in accordance with Article 3(i) of ILO Convention Number 64, and suggested that the proviso under discussion be inserted. The present wording of the ordinance which I have quoted is slightly different from his suggestion but the intention remains the
same.
3.
Mr. Watson also proposed that the ordinance should not apply in respect of "persons proceeding to China, Macao or Taiwan with a view
However, it was felt advisable here not to to being employed there". spell this out in such a clear manner, and thus section 4 (c) of the ordinance excludes "any person or class of persons migrating for employment in respect of whom the Commissioner is satisfied that admission to the country of inmigration will be granted on a permanent basis."
4.
I hope that this information is what you require.
Yours sincerely,
Sd.(I.R. Price)
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