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buses which drove through picket lines and unions could not tackle them at home then the right of access was being denied. Peaceful picketing in small numbers at private residences was not undesirable. The object of picketing was persuasion or the imparting of information. Intimidation was illegal in any case. The law was loaded against a legitimate trade union tactic and this was asking for trouble. Pickets must be allowed access to workers somewhere, if not at the factory gates then at their homes.
Points made by officials
Peaceful picketing is legal in any trade dispute by anyone acting on his own behalf or on behalf of a registered trade union. In Hong Kong, where most workers lived in large blocks of flats, picketing of houses could give rise to prob- lems and, in any event, the members of the family living there are not directly involved in the dispute. The Police were also faced with considerable difficulties where in the confined and crowded urban environment over-zealous picketing could easily become a riot. It still remained possible, however, to picket a house which was also a place of work.
5.
Registrar of Trade Unions
Points made by TUC
Concern was felt about the powers of the Registrar, which they regarded as excessive and restrictive.
Points made by Officials
Although the powers of the Registrar were wide, dis- cretion was exercised at every opportunity and the right of appeal, though rarely exercised, existed to a Court. The general public would not favour removal of the bar on persons holding union office who had been convicted for crimes of violence;
this restriction was designed to cover those responsible for throwing bombs and fixing booby traps, and other crimes of similar gravity in the 1967 troubles.
6.
Conclusion
The TUC representative stated that the General Council would be informed of the results of the meeting and would decide what further action was rocossary.
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