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4.
The Overseas Labour Adviser, Mr Foggon, has just
visited Hong Kong. His report is almost complete and will be
submitted soon. His general conclusion is, however, that
improvements in Hong Kong labour legislation during the past two
to three years, taken together with legislation currently in the
pipeline which we hope will be enacted shortly, will place
Hong Kong ahead of her neighbours, including Korea, Singapore,
Thailand etc., and very close to Japan, in observing international
labour standards.
5.
The Hong Kong Government, in consultation with us, are
pursuing a programme of continuous improvement in labour
legislation. Their labour administration has been considerably
strengthened both in number and quality, including the appointment
of a first-class Factories Inspector from the UK.
6.
While therefore Mr Sillars's enquiries are relevant,
there is no need to accept his underlying implications.
Representation of the People in Hong Kong
7.
The Colony is administered by the Governor, assisted
by Executive Council and Legislative Council. Both Councils
consist of Official and Nominated Unofficial Members. There is
no elected element (although there are some elected members of the
Urban Council, which deals with purely urban affairs). This is
because of the Chinese Government's position that Hong Kong
will revert to China when the time is ripe: they have made it
clear that they would not meanwhile countenance any progress
towards self-government and independence. Popular elections to
the legislature of a dependent territory would normally be seen
/as a step
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