8
Tuesday, September 29, 1970
Such comments as he has received so far showed that the criticism
had been directod against only three of the 50 sub-clauses.
The first concernod the disbarment of a person convicted for an
offence involving violence or against public order from becoming an officer
of a trade union for a period of five years after conviction.
The second widened the existing offence of intimidation to include
blocking or causing an obstruction in a street or road if this were done
with a view to compolling another person to do or not to do something.
The third prohibited the picketing of private residences.
Mr. Hetherington said objections to these three sub-clauses would
be carefully examined before the final text of the bill was determined.
Origins Of Legislation
Trade union legislation in Hong Kong had its origins in the Trade
Unions and Trade Disputes Ordinance enacted in 1948. The provisions
relating to trade unions were re-enacted in 1961 in the present Trade Union
Registration Ordinance which has remained unchanged since then.
During this period, experience in administering the ordinance,
changing circumstances, and new problems had made it necossary to consider
a mumber of amendments to the ordinance.
Mr. Hetherington announced in the Legislative Council in February
1968 that a comprehensive review of it was being undertaken. The draft
Trade Union Registration (Amendment) Bill 1970 is the outcome of this roview.
Most of the changes included in the bill are designed to give
further protection to the interests of members and officials of trade unions.
Somo examples are given below.
/To protect