IMMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A
FM HONG KONG 276923Z
CONFIDENTIAL
CONFIDENTIAL
RECEIVED IN
REGISTRY No.51
-2 JUN 1971
никола
ງ
10000 (jaro) (08
TO IMMEDIATE F.C.O. TELEGRAM NO. 355 OF 27 MAY 1971
FOR MONSON FROM GOVERNOR.
YOUR TELEGRAM NO. 462 TO ME.
NIGHT WORK FOR WOMEN.
TOP COPY
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THIS REQUEST FOR FURTHER DELAY IN MAKING PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT PLACES
ME IN AN EXTREMELY DIFFICULT POSITION. MY SAVINGRAM NO. 275 OF
4TH MARCH 1970 REPEAT 1970 REFERRED TO NECESSITY OF ADEQUATE WARNING
TO MANAGEMENTS IF IT IS TO BE DECIDED TO TERMINATE THE EXPERIMENT. THIS IS BECAUSE, OTHERWISE, EMPLOYERS CANNOT GIVE REQUIRED NOTICE OF ONE MONTH TO THOSE WOMEN NOW EMPLOYED AT NIGHT WHO MIGHT BECOME
REDUNDANT IS SCHEME IS NOT EXTENDED. IF THEY ARE NOT ADVISED TO DO SO NOW, GOVERNMENT MIGHT WELL BE SADDLED WITH AN EMBARRASSING MORAL LIABILITY FOR COMPENSATING SOME EMPLOYERS WHO BECAME FORCED TO PAY
ADDITIONAL WAGES IN LIEU OF NOTICE.
2. MOREOVER, AS THE EXTENDED SCHEME IS WIDELY KNOWN ON CONFIDENTIAL BASIS ( SEE MY TELEGRAM NO. 349 ) FURTHER DELAY BY COMMISSIONER OF LABOUR IN CONFIRMING POSITION IN WRITING CANNOT BE SATISFACTORILY
EXPLAINED. IMPLICATION OF DIRECT INTERVENTION BY HMG WILL
UNDOUBTEDLY BE DEDUCED, OR MAY HAVE TO BE ADMITTED, AND THIS WILL BE MOST UNFORTUNATE IN THE WIDER CONTEXT. ASTONISHMENT HAS ALREADY
BEEN EXPRESSED IN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL AT DELAY IN ANNOUNCEMENT.
3. BECAUSE OF INTERVENTION OF GENERAL HOLIDAY ON FRIDAY, IT IS
POSSIBLE TO DELAY FURTHER UP TO NOON LOCAL TIME ON SATURDAY, 29TH
MAY, AND TO MAKE SPECIAL COMPLEX ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS TO
NOTIFY MANAGEMENTS. ANY FURTHER DELAY WOULD BE IMPRACTICABLE.
TRENCH
FILES
HKD
OLA
PS TO MR KOYLE
SIR L MONSON IR VINORD -
CONFIDENTIAL