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-2-
(D) MY ONLY WORTHWHILE COMMENTS ON THE REST OF THE ARTICLE ARE
THAT IT IS TENDENTIOUS IN PLACES AND THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN
ANY RECENT EVIDENCE THAT NON-COMMUNIST UNIONS WERE ADOPTING THE
'CAMPING OUT' TACTICS REFERRED TO.*
*
3. YOUR PARAGRAPH 2(A). THE TEXT OF THE BILL WITH AN EXPLANATORY
MEMORANDUM WAS SENT TO MEMBERS OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD ON
12TH AUGUST. IN ORDER TO GIVE THEM, ESPECIALLY THE REPRESENTATIVES
OF THE TRADE UNIONS, ADEQUATE TIME TO STUDY THE TEXT, A MEETING OF
THE BOARD WAS DELAYED AND HAS NOW BEEN ARRANGED FOR 15TH OCTOBER.
4. YOUR PARAGRAPH 2(B). THE COMMISSIONER OF LABOUR SAID IN A
PRESS RELEASE ON 30TH SEPTEMBER THAT HE WOULD WELCOME COMMENTS ON
THE BILL AND THAT, IN THE LIGHT OF THESE, HE WOULD CONSIDER WHAT
CHANGES APPEARED TO BE NECESSARY BEFORE MAKING HIS RECOMMENDATIONS
ON THE FINAL VERSION. NEITHER HE NOR THE REGISTRAR OF TRADE
UNIONS HAS RECEIVED ANY SPECIFIC COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT BILL
FROM REGISTERED TRADE UNIONS. PANG CHUN-HOI, CHAIRMAN OF
THE RIGHT-WING COTTON INDUSTRY WORKERS GENERAL UNION
(MY TELEGRAM NO. 386 OF 16TH JUNE, 1970 REFERS) HAS HOWEVER
TOLD THE COMMISSIONER IN WRITING THAT HE CANNOT AGREE TO THE
AMENDMENTS IN THE DRAFT BILL AND THAT HE WILL STATE HIS REASONS
AT THE MEETING OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD. THE HONG KONG AND
KOWLOON TRADES UNION COUNCIL IS ALSO LIKELY TO OBJECT TO CERTAIN
PROVISIONS OF THE DRAFT BILL. ALTHOUGH THE T.U.C. IS REPORTED
TO HAVE PASSED A RESOLUTION ON THE SUBJECT, THE COMMISSIONER
HAS NOT YET RECEIVED THE TEXT. THE FORMER SECRETARY-GENERAL OF
THE T.U.C., FUNG HOI-CHIU, VOICED SUPPORT OF THE DRAFT BILL
BUT HE HAS NOW BEEN OUSTED BY PANG CHUN-HO1. THE DRAFT BILL HAS,
IT IS PRETTY CLEAR, BEEN EXPLOITED BY PANG AS PART OF A POWER
STRUGGLE TAKING PLACE WITHIN THE T.U.C.
CONFIDENTIAL
/5. COMMENTS
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