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6.
Appendix IV to the Deputy Governor's letter listed 27 Conventions on which no improvements were envisaged in the fore- seeable future. It has been agreed that no progress is possible on 13 of these until a comprehensive social security system is created in Hong Kong. These Conventions are Nos. 3, 24, 25, 35-40, 44, 56, 70 and 102. I think that some of the remainder could be looked at more closely, however, and I attach a separate note with my comments on individual Conventions. In addition to Sir Denys Roberts' letter, these comments take account of information contained in the mammoth document entitled "General Information on International Labour Conventions" prepared by the Hong Kong Labour Department in June 1976, a copy of which will be available on HKGD files.
7. These Conventions fall into four groups: -
(a) Convention 27.
Agreed I
Hong Kong now have a copy of the report form. and should be able to assess whether the Convention can be applied;
(b) Progress on Conventions 63, 82(Article 15) and 95(Article
15(a)) depends on extended provision being made in Hong Kong for the keeping of records and the compiling of statistics. There are references in 1976 papers to the fact that the problem of insufficient statistics has been raised in the context of the Planning Paper. Does the ? Planning Paper provide for any early action in this matter?
(c)
Conventions 77, 82(Article 16) and 95(Article 9). So far as I can discover, Hong Kong has never fully explained why the action necessary to apply these cannot be taken
freed and I suggest the Government might now be asked to do so.
(a)
Some slight movement may be possible here, particularly on Article 9 of Convention 95.
Conventions Nos. 87, 89, 99, 100, 114, 120, 122, 135 and 140. It seems to me that no progress can be made with these at present.
CODE 18 77
2 December 1977
Enc.
R Willcocks Overseas Labour Adviser's
Office
c. Mr Walsh DOLA
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