CONFIDENTIAL
3.
(it is appreciated that in the circumstances of
Hong Kong the provisions in the model legislation prescribing a uniform period of notice might have to be varied);"
(2) It was intended that the Governor should be invited to
consider providing in the legislation machinery for the
settlement of disputes in the essential services. The Hong Kong Government have been promoting with limited success the establishment of joint consultative committees in
industry on a voluntary basis; but there are difficulties (not least the refusal of communist unions to co-operate) in legislating for joint consultative and/or conciliation machinery and there is no present intention to proceed with
any general legislation on this subject. What machinery might be introduced for the essential services must depend very much on the local assessment of those difficulties:
it is conceivable that, desirable though it may be to make
statutory arrangements in such industries, it may be necessary to rely on voluntary arrangements, and the Governor could well reach this conclusion. I do not consider that he needs any
further guidance on this subject; in Mr. Goodwin
(his Adviser on Labour Legislation) he has an experienced
officer.
I think it must be for Mr. Foggon to advise on the need to draw attention to the Indian legislation. He is in Nigeria and will not be back in the Office before the 18th December. If he considers it
necessary to do so, we can draft a letter for your signature as a "chaser" to the saving despatch (which it would be advisable to get off as soon as possible).
15 December, 1969
w.s Carter
(W. S. Carter)
Hong Kong Department
CONFIDENTIAL