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27 November, 1970
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I am writing to follow up George Foggon's letter of
5 October and your reply of 16 November about trade union rights in Hong Kong.
2. Insofar as picketing is concerned there has been a recent development affecting the draft Trade Union Registration (Amendment) Bill following its consideration by the Hong Kong Labour Advisory Board on 15 October. The proposal to create a new offence which would make it illegal for pickets to block or cause any obstruction on a road or street has been dropped and this fact might be made known to Buiter before the ICFTU meetings scheduled for early December.
3. It is proposed, however, to retain the provision whereby the picketing of a private house will be illegal though there will be nothing in the Bill which would make it illegal to pickét premises which are both a work place and a private residence.
4. I am sending a copy of this letter to Mr. Kinnear in Hong Kong Department.
J.. Vigors, Esq.,
Brussels.
(H.R.C. Hurst)
Deputy Overseas Labour Adviser.
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