Cypher
CONFIDENTIAL
OUTWARD TELEGRAM
FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
(The Secretary of State)
TO HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
Sent 9th May, 1967. 2223Z
HWB 18/6
68
CONFIDENTIAL No. 877
Your telegram No. 495.
Hours of work for women and young persons.
We should be grateful to receive as soon as possible
a copy of the proposals being put to the Labour Advisory
Board. In view of information reaching us through I.T.W.F.
we should also be grateful for confirmation that our
understanding of the position, which is as follows, is correct:-
(i) proposed regulations will enable statutory orders
(ii)
to be made by Labour Commissioner reducing working hours of women and young persons in any industry or class of industry;
in the first instance, orders would be made limiting to 8 hours daily, working hours in those industries already working an 8 hour day;
(iii) thereafter, in industries where it is common
2.
but not universal practice to work an 8 hour day, orders would be made limiting working hours in those industries to an 8 hour day.
Information received via I.T.W.F. suggests that regulating powers will provide for working hours of from 8 to 10 daily but this has not been our understanding of the position. Perhaps you can say what the basis for this report may be?
3.
Grateful if you will also let us have estimate of:-
(1)
total number of women and young persons in industrial employment;
(ii) total number at present working an 8 hour day.
(iii)
the additional number whose daily hours of work would be reduced to 8 as a result of action as in paragraph 1 (iii) above.
Distribution
BAL
M
H.K.W.I.D. I.G.D.
Copy sent to:-
Foreign Office
Mr. Foggon
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