with
Reference.......
Mr. Laird.
Hong Kong Department.
MEETING WITH TUC OFFICIALS
1.
I shall be sending you a fuller account of the meeting on 5 January with TUC officials (Mr. J.A. Hargreaves and Miss Marjory Nicholson).
2. In the meantime, in relation to the letter dated 31 December from Mr. Feather which is attached, it seems probable that the TUC retains its objections to some provisions of the Hong Kong trade union legislation which they regard as analogous to proposals contained in the United Kingdom's Industrial Relations Bill now before Parliament. These are:-
11
(i)
(ii)
The corporate status of unions in Hong Kong (section 13 of the principal Ordinance) which is seen by the TUC as the basis for making unions liable to legal proceedings, including criminal prosecutions, and for the depletion of their funds by payment of fines.
Removal of the legal protection for the peaceful picketing of homes and the general failure to afford pickets reasonable access to workers for the communication of information.
(iii) The powers of the Registrar, which are said to
be excessive and becoming increasingly restrictive.
3. In addition, the TUC wants suitable legal safe- guards to be framed for the protection of members of
temporary combinations" which would not be a possible cause of union fragmentation, a criticism levied against the provisions relating to "temporary trade unions' contained in an earlier version of the Bill.
4. Mr. Hargreaves said the results of the meeting on 5 January would be reported to the General Council and that a further approach to a Minister was a possibility.
5. On several points, the TUC representatives appeared to be reassured. These were that the protections relating to picketing and conspiracy (sections 46 and 48 of the principal Ordinance) applied to all persons and not only to officials and members of registered trade unions.
6 January 1971
ENC.
Ma Kiya.
J.R.5. Shunt Rs.রলি
H.R.G. Hurst
Deputy Overseas Labour Adviser.