Mr. Ian Brown
Reference HWB. 18/6 (P.2.16/17)
140
Regarding the attached Parliamentary Questions, I think we must go out to Hong Kong with a request for some further information. We need to know (a) what was the experience in Hong Kong after the 1958/9 reduction of working hours from 12 to 10; (b) whether any adjustments in wage rates are likely to take place to compensate for the first reduction of half-an- hour, and their best estimate of the likely out- turn' of events as the phased reduction begins to operate.
2. We should I think also indicate in our telegram that we shall be making use of the Index of Wage Changes since 1958, showing the general rising trend; the fact that one of the purposes of the phased reduction was to avoid too sharp an effect on wages; and the fact that a high proportion of women and young persons are already employed on hours of work lower than the statutory maxima.
3. I would expect our eventual Answer to be along the following lines, subject to the response we receive from the Hong Kong Government:-
Answer
"With permission, I will answer Questions 150 and 173 together. The phased reduction of the maximum hours of work for women and young persons has as one of its purposes the avoidance
of any sharp reduction in earnings. A
large considerable number of women and young persons are already employed on shorter hours of work
than the new statutory minimum and their position
will of course be unaffected. The impact of the reduction of hours will be felt particularly among the women and young persons employed in the
smaller establishments, but in view of the present shortage of labour and competition between the employers, it is likely that earnings will be
maintained in spite of the reduction of hours of
work."
G. Foggon
20 November, 1967