CYPHER/CAT A
ROUTINE HONG KONG
TELEGRAM NO 592
CONFIDENTIAL
#+
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
28 JULY 1970.
26
TOP COP
CONFIDENTIAL
LAST
REF.
YOUR TELNO 479.
FOR FOGGON FROM HETHERINGTON.
THERE ARE SUCH EXAMPLES ALTHOUGH THE UNION WITH WHICH THE
MANAGEMENT DISCUSSES WAGES MAY NOT BE THE LARGEST OR MOST
REPRESENTATIVE OF THOSE TO WHICH EMPLOYEES OF A PARTICULAR
ORGANISATION BELONG. THE WORKING ARRANGEMENTS MENTIONED INCLUDE
SUCH DISCUSSIONS. DETAILS OF WAGE NEGOTIATIONS ARE SUMMARIZED
IN APPENDIX 4 OF THE ANNUAL DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS OF THE LABOUR
DEPARTMENT IN 1963-65 AND IN APPENDIX 5 OF THE REPORTS IN 1965-69.
IN THE EARLY YEARS AFTER THE LIBERATION OF HONG KONG IN 1945
SOME COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS WERE NEGOTIATED WITH ORGANIZATIONS
SOME OF WHICH WERE THE INDIRECT PREDECESSORS OF PRESENT COMMUNIST
UNIONS. THE TRADE UNION AND TRADE DISPUTES ORDINANCE WAS NOT
ENACTED UNTIL 1948. THERE IS SOME DOUBT IF SURVIVING CLAUSES
OF THESE AGREEMENTS ARE STILL REGARDED AS VALID. THE ONLY
COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED BETWEEN
THE MANAGEMENT OF A PUBLIC UTILITY AND A COMMUNIST UNION IN
MORE RECENT YEARS WAS IN 1960 AND INVOLVED THE GAS COMPANY.
SEE PAGES 34 AND 35 OF THE AMMUAL DEPARTMENTAL REPORT OF 1962-61.
IMPROVED CONDITIONS OF SERVICE IN THIS COMPANY WERE INTRODUCED
UNILATERALLY BY THE MANAGEMENT IN THE SUMMER OF 1969 AND
SUPERSEDED THE 1960 AGREEMENT.
SIR D.TRENCH
FILES
H.K.D.
A. & T.D.
O.L.A.
SIR L. MONSON
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.51 29 JUL 1970
HKK