RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No. 51
- 7 JUL 1969
HKK 5/3
Mr. Carter
CONFIDENTIAL
Nr. Stewart.
We shall no doubt hear more
about this at a
weeting
Land Shepherd is calling
This week.
Discussions during Lord Shepherd's
Visit to Hong Kong, June 1969
LABOUR MATTERS
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The following were the main points which arose during Lord Shepherd's discussions with the Governor and others in
Hong Kong.
(i) Night Work for Women
The Unofficial Members suggested
that the Commissioner of Labour should be free to exercise his
discretion without reference to Whitehall. Lord Shepherd saw no objection in principle to what had been proposed provided the night work was voluntary, but he wanted this looked at in the light of labour legislation as a whole.
(ii) Compulsory Rest Day Specifically Lord Shepherd hoped that a favourable decision on (i) above could be linked with
the introduction of a statutory rest day for men. This would not mean that workers could not work seven days a week if they so wished. The rest day might be expressed in terms of four days per month rather than one per week.
(iii) The Workmen's Compensation Amendment Bill and draft Legislation to control underground work would be submitted to the Labour Advisory Board soon.
(iv) A request for legislation imposing penal sanctions on employers who failed to pay wages had just been put to the Attorney-General. It was proposed to move to a statutory weekly wage basis.
(v) The Industrial Relations Bill was "coming along". (vi)
The Trade Unions Registration (Amendment) Bill was in
final draft and would be sent to us in draft.
(vii) On the Illegal Strikes and Lock Outs (Amendment) Bill
I warned that we should have comments, and mentioned in particular that it tightened up penalties and scope without adding any provisions for dealing with the causes of strikes or the
CONFIDENTIAL