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Mr. H.H. Stewart. Hong Kong Department.
Labour Conditions, Hong Kong .
I am enclosing with this minute a copy of a letter dated 9 February from Mr. Greenhalgh, General Secretary of the International Textile and Garment Workers' Federation, together with copies
I of the propaganda posters to which he refers. have heard, in a letter dated 30 January from our Labour Counsellor in Washington, that Locals of the International Ladies Garment Workers intended to picket Automation House where Mr. Wilson was due to speak on Monday, 26 January, but, largely, I understand, due to the intervention of the AFL-CIO headquarters, they did not appear.
2.
Mr. Greenhalgh telephoned me again today to say he had received a request for help from his affiliate, the Textile Workers Union in Hong Kong, to counter pressure for nightwork for women to be permitted. Mr. Greenhalgh told me that the Labour Commissioner, Mr. Hetherington, had refused permission for a night shift at an electronics factory, and that Dr. Chung, Director of the Hong Kong Federation of Industry, had bitterly criticised him (Mr. Hethering- ton). The report goes on to say that the Labour Commissioner "has agreed to consider women working night shift after 1st March". I countered with the information that in Singapore nightwork was now permitted and that the Hong Kong manufacturers had also pointed out that it is permitted in the United States. He replied that there was a very big difference between nightwork in countries where the trade unions were effective and could protect their members, and Hong Kong, where trade union strength was negligible.
3. Did we ever receive a reply from the Hong Kong Government to our communication agreeing to a relaxation of nightwork, with certain safeguards? I am particularly concerned that Hong Kong may go ahead without any further reference tous and without the special review of what I regard as their weak factory inspection service.
Mh. Murray
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بسنو
سنوا
(G. Foggon)
20 February 1970.