GR 600 IMMEDIATE
CYPHER/CAT A
SECRET
NU GRAFODEN
REGISTRY NO. 51
9 JUN 1977
FM HONG KONG 090645Z
NICK 014/
SECRET
TO IMMEDIATE F.C.O. TELNO.577 OF 9 JUNE
INFO PEKING, CANBERRA, SINGAPORE,
INFO SAVING WELLINGTON.
PLEASE PASS TO CABINET OFFICE FOR SECRETARY J.I.C.
THE FOLLOWING IS THE L.I.C ASSESSMENT FOR MAY 1977.
ECONOMY AND LABOUR
3/6
BWJDRLOF ALL PRESSURE GROUPS, TOGETHER WITH A NUMBER OF RESIDENTS ASSOCIATIONS HAVE BEEN CAMPAIGNING IN AN ATTEMPT TO UNITE RESIDENTS
OF PUBLIC HOUSING ESTATES AND RESITE AREAS TO OPPOSE GOVERNMENT'S PUBLIC HOUSING AND RENTAL POLICIES SO FAR WITH LITTLE EFFECT. THE CAMPAIGN WHICH HAS INCLUDED MEETINGS, SEMINARS, PRESS CONFERENCES AND PETITIONS TO GOVERNMENT HOUSE AND THE HOUSING DEPARTMENT IS
EXPECTED TO CONTINUE.
2. PROPOSED LEGISLATION TO INTRODUCE SEVEN CONSECUTIVE DAYS ANNUAL PAID LEAVE AND MORE GENEROUS SEVERANCE PAY TERMS HAS PROVOKED
SOME OPPOSITION FROM COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYER ORGANISATIONS IN HONG KONG. SOME EMPLOYEES HAVE ALSO OBJECTED TO
THE LEGISLATION ON THE GROUNDS THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE THE OPTION OF DOUBLE PAY IN LIEU OF LEAVE, BUT THE RIGHT-WING TUC UNIONS HAVE WELCOMED THE PROPOSAL. A STATEMENT ISSUED BY THE COMMUNIST
FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS GENERALLY WELCOMED THE AMENDED LABOUR
LEGISLATION AND CLAIMED THAT THE EFFORTS OF THE LEADERSHIP''
HAD BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN BRINGING IT ABOUT.
3. THE FIGURES RECENTLY RELEASED BY THE REGISTRAR OF TRADE UNIONS
SHOW THAT THESE UNIONS INCREASED THEIR CLAIMED MEMBERSHIP BY ABOUT
TWENTY THOUSAND DURING 1976 TO A TOTAL OF 288,000 WHICH REPRESENTS
SEVENTY FOUR PERCENT OF THE TOTAL MEMBERSHIP CLAIMED BY ALL TRADE
UNIONS IN HONG KONG. THIS NUMERICAL INCREASE IS SIMILAR TO THAT OF
SECRET
/1975.
: