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69
Hong Kong Department
23 December, 1970
In Leslie Monson's absence on leave, I am writing to thank you for your helpful letter of 9 November about the Trade Union Registration (Amendment) Bill. This has enabled the Parliamentary Under Secretary to reply to a number of letters from Members of Parliament and others criticising the original version of the Bill.
Mr. Victor Feather, who wrote to the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary last September about the Bill, has recently written again commenting not only on the amending Bill but also on the principal Ordinance. A copy of his letter and of the note he sent with it are enclosed.
I must now tell you that we are having a meeting with the TUC on 5 January. This has been arranged by George Foggon. The background to the meeting is, briefly, that at the last meeting of the Overseas Labour Consultative Committee (which comprises representatives from the Confeder- ation of British Industry and from the Trade Union Congress, as well as officials from the various Ministries, and which meets at irregular intervals under the Chairmanship on an FCO Minister) the TUC representatives raised a number of points about the Hong Kong Trade Union Registration (Amendment) Bill and it was thought that it would be best to give them an opportunity of expressing their views at a separate meeting confined to this subject, with officials, the alternative being a meeting with Ministers. Part of the sensitivity of the TUC undoubtedly derives from certain similarities, as they see it, between your legislation and legislation currently under discussion here. We shall, of course, make it quite clear at the meeting on 5 January that the situation in Hong Kong is not the same as the situation in the UK.
It would be most helpful to us if Allen, who is at present on leave, could attend the meeting as well. We should be grateful if you could send us a telegram confirming that you have no objection to this and summarizing your views on the points raised in the note sent to the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary by Mr. Feather. We shall, of course, let you know what happens at the meeting.
Sir, H. Norman-Walker, KCMG, OBE,
Colonial Secretary,
HONG KONG.
(K.M. Wilford)