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affiliations. He could add that he has encouraged the Governor to widen the social mix of the Members appointed to the Council and had received an assurance from Sir Murray MacLehose that plans to do so were now under active consideration. The suggestion that one or more Members should have a trade union background would be kept in mind, but there were undeniable difficulties at present due to the weakness of trade unions generally and their differing political allegiances. Doubtless if a more active independent trade union movement got
under way, natural leaders would emerge in time.
Trade Union Legislation
5.
The Secretary of State might say that, as the International Committee know, he has been impressed by the argument that law and practice in the Colony are somewhat at odds since practice seemed to be more liberal than the letter of the law suggests. He has asked the Overseas Labour Adviser to take up this matter with the Labour Commissioner in Hong Kong to see if any of the present controls (e.g. on the employment of paid officials) are still necessary. might offer to report on this again when the study is complete.
ILO Conventions
6.
He
This matter did not receive much prominence at the Governor's
If raised, meeting with the International Committee on 3 December.
the Secretary of State might say that he had been assured by the Governor that steady progress is being maintained and Hong Kong should be able to notify its acceptance of a further two Conventions in the near future. He might add that he has reminded the Governor of the need to keep up the momentum in this respect. Lord Goronwy-Roberts's first review of the situation will take place in January.
Labour Relations Enquiry
7.
At the Governor's meeting with the International Committee, Mr Len Murray and others thought that Dr McCarthy's nominee for this enquiry would need the backing of a nominee each from the CBI and TUC. They did not wish to disparage Dr McCarthy, who was well known and respected by the TUC, but they thought the study must be given a practical bias and to this end believed that actual industrial and
HKK 5/31
HK*5/28
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/trade union
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