3
and independent segment, estimated to total 25,000 members,
workers' unions in Hong Kong are organised into two political
groups - the Federation of Free Trade Unions, which is communist
and Peking controlled, and the Trades Union Council which is
Kuomintang dominated. The estimated total membership of the
two groups is 75,000 in the communist unions and 25,000 in the
Kuomintang unions. The TUC is affiliated to the International
Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the two international
trade secretariats, the International Transport Workers
Federation and the International Tailoring and Garments Workers
Federation, have been active in Hong Kong.
Recognition of Unions
5. Neither the Hong Kong Government, nor any other employers,
can remedy the weaknesses of trade union membership or organisa-
tional structures: these are matters for the unions themselves.
New
In the Hong Kong situation there will be a growing possibility
that unions may seek recognition by strike action.
industrial relations legislation is under consideration which it
is hoped will provide improved procedures for the settlement of
such disputes.
The Recognition Issue in Hong Kong between the ASTMS and the HAECO
6. In the case of the Hong Kong branch of the ASTMS, the
management of HAECO, despite intervention by the Labour Relations
Service of the Hong Kong Labour Department, has refused to
concede the negotiating rights sought by the union, i.e. on wages,
terms of individual contracts and the difference between local
and expatriate terms of service: the employer has indicated
/however