CONFIDENTIAL
INWARD TELEGRAM
TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
18
APR
# 12 10
1967
Cypher
D. 18th April, 1967. R. 18th
08.00 hrs.
IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIAL
No. 481
4
Your telegram No. 724.
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 6/ 18 APRISON
Hours of work for women and young persons,
9
HWB18/6
A meeting of the Labour Advisory Board has been arranged for 11th May the earliest date convenient for its members, at which it is intended to seek the Board's advice on the proposals for amending the legislation.
2.
In the light of this advice, any necessary legislation will have to be referred in detail to Executive Council. The Executive Council, while agreeing to the present reference of the proposals to the Labour Advisory Board, has taken no decision in principle yet on them.
3.
We are further under an obligation to those organisations which participated in the working party to consult them on the detailed legislation (you will recall that the recommendations in the report of this working party, other than the minority views of the Commissioner of Labour, have not been accepted). These non-Government organisations will require time to consider and possibly discuss details, but they have already been given a preliminary outline of the proposals.
4.
I am afraid, therefore, that at this stage, it is not practicable to draw up a firm timetable. I will keep you informed of progress as the situation develops.
5.
Finally, I feel that I must clearly warn that pressure from outside Hong Kong on this matter, particular pressure arising from outside labour organisations, is regarded here with grave suspicion of its motives at all levels of opinion. It is widely believed to arise not from any concern over Hong Kong Workers' but from a protectionist desire to destroy Hong Kong's competitive position in international markets. Hong Kong does not react well to pressure whatever the subject, and recent comments and references abroad have already generated some additional opposition to our proposals. Further pressure will only increase the difficulty of making any progress.
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CONFIDENTIAL