CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Youde
Lianetary
21/3.
Parliamentary Unit
PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION: VISIT TO HONG KONG
1.
Mr James Sillars MP (Labour, South Ayrshire) has
put down a question for oral answer on 27 March to ask the
Secretary of State if he will pay an early visit to Hong Kong.
Since I understand that the Secretary of State has no plans
at present to visit the Colony, I submit a draft reply saying
So.
2.
The question is likely to be reached, and it is
probable that Mr Sillars has asked it in order to pursue in
supplementaries the questions that particularly interest him
of labour affairs in Hong Kong (especially the application of
ILO Conventions), of democracy in the Colony, of corruption,
the death penalty, sterling guarantees, relations with China
and the future of the Colony. Draft answers to supplementaries
on all these topics are attached.
3.
Labour Conditions and International Labour Organisation Conventions
Mr Sillars has in the past suggested that HMG should
set up an enquiry into the application of ILO Conventions to
Hong Kong. He has shown particular interest in the application of
Conventions nos. 24, 32, 94 and 98. In this Parliament he has
already asked a question on the conventions which have been applied
to the UK but not to Hong Kong (see reference at Flag A). Behind
this is the implication that Hong Kong has been unacceptably
reluctant to apply international standards of labour legislation.
CONFIDENTIAL
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