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INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE AND GARMENT VORKERS' FEDERATION
120, Baker Street, London, W.1
COPY OF LETTER SENT TO THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG
AN
bir David Trench, K.C.M.G., M.C.,
Government House,
90
oleji
23rd May, 1967
Hong Kong.
Your Excellency,
An you are no doubt aware. the above International Federation hao been actively engaged in trying to strengthen the textilo and garment workers unions in Hong Kong in order that they might become strong effective and responsible organisations capable of protecting the interests of their numbers.
The uncompromising attitude of the employers generally, supported I am afraid, by out-of-date legislation, makes this project difficult, if not impossible to succeed.
When I visited the colony for a few days early in 1966, I found much that we can justly be proud of, but when I was made aware of the abnormal conditions that workers generally have to endure, then I felt rather ashamed to have to admit that those were the responsibility of a British Administration.
Before dealing with these conditions however, I wish to inform you that our representativo in Hongkong, who keeps me informed about all matters affecting the welfare of the workers, assures me that the present riots are supported by only a very small minority of persons in Hongkong, and of course, they cre communist inspired. It is gratifying to find everwhelming support for the measures taken to restore law and order, both in the colony and in the United Kingdom. I sincerely hope that the rioting will soon subside and thus enable the populace to follow their normal pursuits.
I would however, he doing less than my duty if I did not emphasize that the abnormal working conditions to which I have referred, contribute in no small way to the ease in which persons can be incited to create disorder. The fact that the Hongkong Government has tolerated such abnormal working conditions for so long has not been very inducive to encouraging the workers to have faith in a free society.
World-wide attention is now being focussed on the colony, and it is not escaping notice that some small business men are transferring their businesses to Taiwan. Fhat is more serious however, is the fact that confidence will now be undermined in the very future of the colony, and so deter capital investment from outside.
Many well-meaning persons in Hongkong are now suggesting that the labour legislation should be improved and there is increasing publicity about the working conditions in Hongkong. Even in the United Kingdom, whilst there is general support for the_ffort.bin; n d to restore low and order, the question of why
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