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3.
(a) In the light of existing factory conditions
in Hong Kong, both as regards the safety, health and welfare of workers, is the existing legislation adequate?
No doubt you are considering putting the Governor's agreement to Hong Kong for the record. When that has been done we should be free to approach the Department of Employment and Productivity for the secondment of a very senior Inspector (I should not have thought below Superintending Inspector of Factories level) for a visit to Hong Kong, which need not, I think, take more than two or three weeks. I think it would also be helpful (if we can get her agreement) for this Inspector to be accompanied by Miss S.A.Ogilvie who recently retired as my Deputy at the Ministry of Overseas Development. She was formerly a Factory Inspector in the old Ministry of Labour and has had extensive overseas experience. She has visited Hong Kong before to look at factory conditions, and in view of the very large numbers of women and young persons employed in Hong Kong factories, the association of a woman with the inspection would, I believe, be generally welcomed.
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4. As regards night work for women, you will observe from Singapore telegram No.1101 of 28 November that the numbers of women employed by the electronics industry there on the three-shift basis is quite small I am surprised that Fairchilds were permitted to operate a regular nightshift for women workers. have made a similar request in Hong Kong and I feel strongly that this should be resisted. This, I under- stand, is also the view of Lord Shepherd. There may well be some outcry when the Night Work for Women Regulations are relaxed in Hong Kong and our position would be seriously weakened if critics could point to women being employed on permanent night work. Other figures for the employment of women at night in Singapore are as follows:-
(Extracted from a report from our Labour Attache
in Singapore, dated 24 July 1969)
To date the figures for night work are:-
No. of firms in manufacturing sector:
3,655
Complete exemption (1.e. complete night shift)
No. of firms - 36
No. of women affected
3,873
Partial exemption: (i.e. for extension of twilight
shift to 11.30 p.m. or midnight)
No. of firms 7
No. of women affected - 975
/In assessing