Fédération Internationale des Travailleurs des Industries
du Textile et de l'Habillement
PRESIDENT:
JN E. NEWTON
VICE-PRESIDENT:
K. BUSCHMANN
Internationale Textil- und Bekleidungsarbeiter-Vereinigung
Internationella Textil- och Beklädnadsarbetarefederationen
INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE AND
GARMENT WORKERS' FEDERATION
} 120 BAKER STREET, LONDON, W.1
GENERAL SECRETARY: J. GREENHALGH
to whom all communications should be addressed
TELEPHONE:
WELBECK 1745
TELEGRAM ADDRESS:
WORKINTEX, London, W.1
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You will know that I intended to write to the I.L.0. and various other bodies, soliciting their assistance to obtain a reduction of working hours for women and young persons in Hong Kong. Upon reflection however, I feel that we can keep the matter confined to the United Kingdom for the time being, in view of the wide-spread interest being shown by M.P's of all parties.
I have sent Mr. Foggon a copy of a confidential document which I have received from Hong Kong, and I have written to Mr. Rankin, M.P., explaining that it is not the textile workers that need protective legislation in Hong Kong, but the garment and other female workers. I also informed him of the two paragraphs in the confidential document which make it so obvious that the new legislation is being watered down to such a degree that it will be possible for employers to reduce their working hours by as little as 5 minutes per day and still comply with the legislation. This side-tracking of the spirit of what should be done, comes au no surprise to me, for I just have no confidence in anyone without labour/management experience.
Copies of all my letters are sent to Ernest Thornton, so far as Hong Kong is concerned, for he is one of the few persons upon whom I can rely to do everything he can to obtain more humane conditions in Hong Kong.
Just one additional point. I am not interested in what might be described as Government policy on this issue, and I realise that the problem is very difficult. If I could only obtain some assurance from you that the question is receiving your urgent attention with a view to reducing the hours of work for women and young persons in Hong Kong to the level obtaining in Asiatic countries generally, then I could be much more content than I am at the moment. If this request is asking too much of you, I can adjust my actions accordingly.
Yours sincerely,
General Secretary.