Registry 3.
No.
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION
Top Secret.
Secret
Confidential
Restricted: Llaclassified.
PRIVACY MARKING
.In Confidence
DRAFT
To:-
Minutes
27
a
PartB.
$132
Type 1 +3.
From
(88)
Telephone No. & Ext.
Department
Meeting with Mr. H. Gibson of NUAKW
on Thursday 1 October, 1970
Mr. H. Gibson
Mr. Anthony Royle
Mr. G. Foggon Mr. E. 0. Laird
Mr.
A. Lambert
PRESENT :
General Secretary of the National Union of Hosiery & Knitwear Worker Parliamentary Under-Secretary of Overseas Labour Adviser, Fcstate. Hong Kong/Department, FCO. Hong Kong Department, FCO.
Mr. Gibson began by mentioning his two visits to Hong Kong. On the first, he had looked at industrial efficiency, whereas on the second he had examined labour legislation. In a reply to a question by Mr. Royle, he spoke of the abundance of cheap labour available, but expressed his concern about the lack of rapport saw it, between the Hong Kong Government and the Trade Union and other Labour leaders.
as he
2. Mr. Royle pointed out that during the 1967 Disturbances some 97% of the population had rallied to the Government in a most remarkable way. Mr. Gibson regarded this as a demonstration of an anti-communist feeling rather than a positive display of support for the Government. In any case, he felt that there had been a deterioration in the situation since 1967.
He agreed that criticism of the Government was a healthy sign, but only so long as it was taken into account by the appropriate authorities. There was still not the improvement in Labour relations that there could be. Hong Kong workers needed greater protection and more power in collective bargaining both of which could be provided by an Industrial Relations Bill. Unfortunately, a helpful climate for negotiations was lacking. The International Federation was particularly concerned about this. Both the Labour Department and the Governmen could do more in this respect.
3. Mr. Royle replied by welcoming Mr. Gibson's inter- est. The situation over the past two or three years had improved considerably. Among the steps the Government of Hong Kong were taking was the setting up of Labour Courts. On his forthco ing visit to Hong Kong he would be discussing this and other related matters. In the labour relations field Hong Kong had peculiar difficult- ies to overcome, not least, the sharp division of the Trades Unions themselves along political lines.
(118281) Dd. 391599 1,500M 2/69 Hw.
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Mr. Gibson