Fédération Internationale des Travailleurs des Industries
du Textile et de l'Habillement
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
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PRESIDENT:
E. NEWTON
VICE-PRESIDENT:
K. BUSCHMANN
Mrs. Judith Hart, M.P.,
Minister of State, Commonwealth Office, Great Smith Street,
London. S.W.1.
Dear Minister,
VED
CE
TELEPHONE: WELBECK 1745
TELEGRAM ADDRESS:
WORKINTEX, London, W.1
June 30th 1967.
May I say how pleased I am to read of the proposed changes in working hours for women and young persons in industrial employment in Hongkong. Your statement in reply to questions in the House on June 27th 1967 was such a big improvement upon your communication to me on 26th April 1967, when you stated that the amending
(54) legislation in Hongkong would not be extended to apply to those employed in the garment
I also wish to inform you that, notwithstanding your reply to the
.
question posed by Mr. Frank Allaun, I did receive a reply to the letter which I sent to the Governor of Hongkong on May 23rd, even though the reply was only dated 24th June 1967. This reply was written on behalf of the Governor by Mr. M.D.I. Gass, the Colonial Secretary, and I enclose a copy for your information, together with a copy of my response.
I leave it to you to decide upon the accuracy or otherwise of many
of the statements, but I feel that I must comment upon his view that "The recent disorders have shown that the vast majority of the people of Hongkong support the Government and the way of life which they lead here". It makes me wonder what his (Mr Gass) re-action would be if I were to inform him that I would instruct our people in Hongkong to refrain from any opposition to rioting and violence, as this would only be interpreted as being satisfaction with the present way of life? Fortunately, some of us have a sense of responsibility, and it maybe that Mr. Gass wrote the passage knowing of this. It is this kind of thinking that fills me with despair for the future of the peoples in the few remaining dependencies.
However, in spite of the letter written by Mr. Gass, I am more than pleased with the trend of events here in London, which indicate that there is now at least some hope for the under-privileged peoples in Hongkong.
RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 63
- 6 JULIJÙÌ
HWD 18/6
Yours singerely,
LAST
RT
Treenhalgh.
general Secretary.
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