CODE 18 - 77
CONFIDENTIAL
Mr David
Davya
HKD
58
LA 393/11
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HONG KONG : STANDING COMMITTEE TO MONITOR THE PLANNING PAPER
1. In your minute of 3 March you invited my comments on the Hong Kong Government's quarterly reports for the period 1 November - 31 January.
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2. I have no comments of substance on those sections of the reports concerned with labour matters. I would, however, emphasise the importance of keeping up the momentum with regard to the legislation at serial numbers 5 and 23. This legislation has to be enacted before improved declarations can be made on the application to Hong Kong of ILO Conventions Nos. 101 (Holidays with Pay Agriculture) and 94 (Labour Clauses - Public Contracts). The Hong Kong Government have undertaken to make such declarations during 1977 and with this in view to enact the necessary legislation by the end of the first quarter of the year. We should, I think, seek confirma- tion in advance of the next quarterly report that the legis- lation has in fact been completed within this timetable.
3. As the programme of improved declarations for 1977 also includes Conventions Nos. 17 (Workmen's Compensation - Accidents), 42 (Workmen's Compensation Occupational Diseases) and 90 (Night Work of Young Persons Industry) I would have welcomed an indication in the report of the progress being made with the relevant legislation respectively an amendment of the Workmen's Compensation Ordinance, enactment of the Workmen's Compensation (Silicosis and Asbestosis) (Amendment) Bill, and an amendment of the Factories and Industrial Under- takings Ordinance.
4. This Department is recommending, in connection with the annual review of the application of ILO Conventions to Hong Kong, that the Hong Kong Department should check at quarterly intervals on the Hong Kong Government's progress with its legislative programme and I suggest that the points above should be raised when the first such check is made (at the end of this month (?)).
24 March 1977
CONFIDENTIAL
N.R.5. Thirst
HRG Hurst
Overseas Labour Adviser