CONFIDENT IAL
that the scheme be extended for a further trial period of
12 months from 1 July 1971 to 30 June 1972. In order to
give management adequate notice of the continuation of the
scheme it was stated in the Governor's saving despatch
that the Commissioner would announce its extension before
the end of May 1971, indicating that a further review would
be undertaken in the spring of 1972. The saving despatch
also included details of the various conditions to be
observed by those industrial undertakings wishing to take
advantage of the scheme. In some respects these conditions
varied from those laid down when the scheme was first
introduced. A comparison of the original and the modified
safeguards is at Annex A.
4. The saving despatch No. 361 reached Hong Kong Department
on 17 May. The Overseas Labour Adviser was abroad at the
time. He was expected back in London on 24 May and had
arranged to meet the Deputy Commissioner of Labour Hong Kong
(who was on leave in London) on 26 May. In these
circumstances I sent a telegram to Hong Kong requesting
that any announcement of the extension of the scheme be
delayed until after the proposals had been discussed by the
Overseas Labour Adviser and the Deputy Commissioner of
Labour at their meeting on 26 May.
5.
This produced Hong Kong telegram No. 349, a copy of
which is at Annex B.
2.
CONFIDENTIAL
16.