with (18
Flag At AKKSIS
Lon
Mr. MoreZon
by
Parliamentary office. My
Mr. Rankin is one of a number of M.Ps. who have for several
years been interested in labour conditions in Hong Kong, particu- larly the limitation of hours of work for women and young persons.
2. Mr. Rankin seems to be under the misapprehension that there are standard hours of work laid down by the International Labour Organisation with which Hong Kong should, and does not, conform.
But this is not the case. It is broadly true - and in relation
to hours of work entirely true that the United Kingdom, as the metropolitan power responsible for the external affairs of her Dependent Territory Hong Kong, must herself ratify ILO conventions
before those conventions apply to Hong Kong. She has not done so, for the reason, it is understood, that in this country such matters are handled by collective bargaining. But this is not a
matter for this Ministry.
3. Mr. Rankin recently asked about the hours of work for shop
attendants, waiters and lift operators. This is probably why he refers in this question to the service industries. He was told that although the hours for women and young persons in industrial establishments were limited by statute this was not the case in
other sectors. But he was also told that the conditions of employment of young persons in the hotel and restaurant trades were currently under examination by the Hong Kong Government. Although not strictly relevant to this question the Governor of Hong Kong has reported that his proposed labour legislation includes the introduction of statutory rest days for certain workers in the non-industrial sectors especially shops and service
trades.
12 May, 1969
in.s.
Carter
(W. S. Carter)
Hong Kong Department.
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