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W(B)L 51-7406
CONFIDENTI AL
Hongking's methods of Haiding medical
care to the broad mars
in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom. But he was
presumably right in thinking that there was a greater
gap in social services and education. Sir David Trench
agreed. Some things were impossible, for instance
contributory pension schemes could not be accepted in
absence
Hong Kong due to the business of long term security.
Hong Kong's medical schemes were cheaper than those in
of the population actually Britain. worked out to be
cheaper to the average praw than the "free" health service
in
Small contributions to the health service and
to schooling did no harm.
specifically for education.
There was no taxation
On education the problem
was that one in four of the population were being
40% of the population were under 15.
12. Mr. Stewart said that on labour legislation he under-
Stain. Small cartsiential educated; towards the costs of mediene & educational series were not necessarily undesirable
Why
not?
^
HKK 14/18 paras 140 15
stood that there was a case for greater penalties
Sir David Trench explained that the
for infringements.
Cictate to the courts what thee to umpire : meximen Government could not get the courts to impose the fines were generally adequate.
that
Mr. Roberts explained
maximum fines, which were adequate.
mminum fries wave umpsfoulas with the couth who that the courts acquitted people rather than applying Sometimes acquitted people
minimum fines. The Government had not had much success
in persuading the courts to increase penalties.
perhaps
13. Mr. Stewart said that labour conditions were/some-
thing that the Communists might exploit. Sir David
Trench pointed out that since they were better than in
China there was a limited field, for this. Sir John
(certame types of
Leve
Cowperthwaite pointed out that/labour legislation was
always or he canardly
not/popular with the workers themselves who wanted to be
t/popular
free to make as much money as they could. Rules against
night work for women had been unpopular.
Fortunately
legislation was coming at a time of rising wages.
Sir David Trench pointed out that it was very difficult
to police the legislation.
place in smaller factories.
Most infringements took
In general Hong Kong's
labour legislation was not in any way out of date As was often maxi out. Corruption
14. Mr. Stewart said that he understood that the Hong
/Kong