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CR 169/65
GOVERNMENT HOUSE
HONG KONG, LD IN
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ник 5125
Dear And Shepherd
MINISTER E
Recd.
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Ark
To Hong Kong Deft
26th February 1970
It
Knowing your interest in the matter, I thought you would like me to let you know personally that the Employment (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill, 1970, which gives employees an entitlement to four rest days a month was given its third reading in Legislative Council on 25th February and passed. has, on the whole been well received, though with some criticism from less responsible employers, and in anticipation of its enactment preliminary arrange- ments have been made whereby the Commissioner of Labour will exercise his powers to allow night work by women, subject to certain general conditions for a trial period of 16 months ending in June 1971. It is intended that these powers should be exercised with effect from 1st March. The points made in your saving despatch No. 13 of 9th January have been fully taken into account, and we will be replying formally
soon as possible.
to this despatch as
I enclose for your information a
copy of the speech made by Dr. S.Y. Chung, Unofficial Member of Legislative Council, in support of the Bill. Dr. Chung's speech makes reference to night work by women, and his remarks are I believe representative of the general feeling in Hong Kong in favour of the intro- duction of selective night work for women.
I say
this in spite of the fact that some criticism (mostly originating from social workers and church quarters) of the idea of night work for women has appeared in the press.
In your despatch of 9th January you
have suggested that one or more UK experts should visit
The Rt. Hon. The Lord Shepherd, Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
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