December.
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The direct approach to the management which Mr Jenkins
was advised to make at the second meeting failed and in June 1971
the Registrar of Trade Unions in Hong Kong cancelled the registration
of the ASTMS at the request of its members on the grounds that it had
ceased to exist. The China Mail quotes Mr Jenkins, however, as
saying during his most recent visit that he intends to extend his
Union's activities in Hong Kong.
4. Mr Jenkins may repeat some of the points he made to the Press
in Hong Kong:
(a) "I think British unions were going to be looking very hard
at Hong Kong in my opinion the labour laws in Hong Kong
are very unsatisfactory.
(b)
There is no such thing here as
union recognition in collective bargaining ... I think there
should be an Act to provide for proper union recognition.
My experience is that the Government here is slow and
unwilling to act in these matters. I look upon Hong Kong as
a centre of low wages for people who have to work here on
local contracts this applies to both European and local
people.
These people are being exploited."
He said he intended to return to extend his (Association of
Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staffs) union's
activities in Hong Kong, recruiting more members, particularly
among expatriate civil servants.
The Trade Union Situation in Hong Kong
5.
(a) The division of Hong Kong's trade unions on political
lines continues, one group (the stronger) supporting the
Federation of Trade Unions (FTU) and the other the Trades
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