W(B)L 51-7406
NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN
which it will be necessary to resort to
emergency measures and emergency powers and
for which it is not appropriate that permanent
legislation should attempt to provide.
Nevertheless the possibility that the
communists might organise a series of one-
industry stoppages, each following hard upon
the other, cannot be altogether discounted.
Here too the legislation would probably prove
unusable after invoking it to deal with the
initial one or two stoppages. One can but
agree with the Governor that it is difficult
to foresee the circumstances in which it might
be used.
15. But Hong Kong do consider that this
legislation has a deterrent value, and there
is some substance in their view. It is true
that it did not deter the communists from
organising stoppages of work in the transport,
electricity and gas services in 1967 for
"political" purposes which they did not attempt
to conceal. But in less abnormal circum-
stances the communist unions can be expected to
be more careful to avoid action which might be
held to constitute a breach of the law. They are once again being repeatedly
have once more been enjoined by Peking
directives not to come into conflict with the
authorities and we would now expect them to
come under strong pressure from their leadership
to avoid obviously illegal action. The
deterrent value of such legislation cannot
therefore be altogether discounted. Indeed
it is arguable that to withdraw these
provisions at this time is tantamount to
inviting the local communist hierarchy to
sanction again the use of the strike as a
political weapon.
/ 16.
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F