En Clair
HONG KONG TO COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (D.T.D.)
Unnumbered 20 October, 1967
UNCLASSIFIED
Press
202020.
Attention Glover.
RECEIVED IN
ARCHIVES No. 63
23 OCT 0
HWA 22/27
27
TOP COM
чк
Lord Shepherd Minister of State for Commonwealth Affairs said at Press conference today that there is an opportunity for sound changes in Hong Kong particularly in field of labour reform.
In fact Lord Shepherd said that beginning on first December and with agreement of employers Hong Kong shall start to reduce hours of work for women and young persons to forty- eight hours per week instead of present sixty.
Lord Shepherd said this reduction shall be achieved over four years.
In order that there should be a period of adjustment in industry Minister of State said he had agreed to raise statutory limit of overtime.
As regard to men workers Lord Shepherd said he had started discussions with management to see if men workers be given a statutory one day off each week. He expressed belief that this could now (repeat now) be achieved.
In Hong Kong he said there is a great need for greater cooperation and consultation between management and workers. cooperation and consultation he added are perhaps greatest challenge that face Colony.
Such
Touching on his visit here Lord Shepherd said he came here to learn and that he had learned a great deal.
He said : "I have been stimulated by ideas that have been given and I shall work upon them".
His task when he returns to London is to tell full story not (repeat not) only to Parliament but to Press.
Lord Shepherd also referred to what he called actions of a very small group of persons who [? gps omitted] week but have clearly failed to disrupt life of Colony.
He again paid tribute to services rendered by British soldiers, the police - both regular and auxillary and to people of Hong Kong whom he said, had stood steadfast and resolute.
Speaking of progress in Hong Kong in general Lord Shepherd said that much had been achieved but much still needs to be done and there is no one more conscious of this than Governor Sir David Trench.
/He said