co-operation between the two is out of the question.

Divided politically,

and further separated by differenses of dialect, the number of unions has

grown beyond practical needs. Attempts to improve the trade union

structure have failed in spite of the Hong Kong Government's efforts

to

to promote trade union education, and the efforts of some international

trade union organisations.

•Alpresented

have

at the meeting

like mone

5. The rivalry between right and left wing unions coupled with their

failure to get down to genuine industrial activity, creates difficulties in

the matter of their recognition, and many employers are reluctant to

accord recognition Attempts at Government conciliation were frustrated

last year by the refusal of the communist unions to recognise that

Government had a real part to play in labour relations.

nevertheless Other

methods of improving labour (management relations are improvement of conciliation machinery and a strenghtening of the

Government!

our repertunt oro mittore now under examination, principally though fine consultatio.

Hours of Work

6. There

There are no legal restrictions on the hours of work for men although

most work 10 hours a day or less. Employers

Employers are obliged to provide six

annual holidays a year and a sickness allowance of up to 12 days a year.

Regulations made under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance

in respect of women and young persons provide for maximum daily hours,

limited overtime, weekly rest days and rest periods. Yo

Young persons between

the ages of 14 and 16 years may not work more than 8 hours a day (48 hours

a week) with a break of 1 hour after 5 hours continuous work. Night

underground work by women and young persons in industry is prohibited

and employers must grant women and young persons in industry a weekly day

of rest.

7.

/Night

or

The long hours which women and children were permitted to work in

has been Hong Kong industries used to be a source of severe criticism in and outside

of Parliament in this country and overseas. Partly as a result of pressureȧ

Dunker Stakes viik in

1

vízik

Det, 1967

Culmmaking Lt

from H.M.G., the Hong Kong Government introduced last December a 4 year phased

programme of reduction in the working hours of women and young persons, so

that from a maximum of 60 hours per week in 1967 they will be reduced to a

maximum of 48 hours per week on the 1st December, 1971. The first reduction

/of

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