NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
W(B)L 51-7406
take several months. The Overseas Labour Adviser has remarked on the strong ppéssure that has built up in Hong Kong for the relaxation of the prohibition (already relaxed in Singapore). I fear that to insist on no relaxations being permitted until a strengthened inspectorate is available to carry out
inspections may be regarded as the late introduction of yet another specific condition. I therefore suggest that, while we should make
it quite cleap to the Governor that the Minister expects steps to be taken to strengthen the factory inspectorate as one of the
necessary and proper safeguards, measures of relaxation are not deferred until all such
ion
steps have been completed.
cancering (b)
My second reservation relates to the complete prohibition of employment on permanent night shift. To a limited extent permanent night shift work is permitted in Singapore, and this is bound to lead to heavy pressure for comparable relaxation in Hong Kong. While I agree that as an opening gambit we should take up the position that permanent night shift work should not be allowed, I would hope we would examine carefully, on their merits, any arguments Hong Kong might put forward for a very limited and strictly controlled arrangement for permanent night shifts.