CONFIDENTIAL
Mr Willcocks (Overseas Labour Advisers)
HONG KONG: ILO CONVENTIONS - YOUR MINUTE OF 23 NOVEMBER
(40)
1. Thank you for letting me know the progress on Convention 101. We have now received a full report from Hong Kong covering their expected achievements in 1977 and plans for 1978.
2. The letter (DOC 45) makes clear that Hong Kong expect that legislation on Conventions 17 and 90 will be enacted by the end of the year. In addition, they claim to have written to you about Convention 141 suggesting that a declaration on this can be made. Convention 42, however, looks very doubtful for this year, as in earlier years. am not impressed by the reasons put forward by Hong Kong to explain the delay but would appreciate your comments.
I
3. Hopefully then Hong Kong will have applied five Conventions by the end of this year. In 1978 they are planning improved declarations to only 4 Conventions and have no plans for any additions. This seems to indicate a significant falling off of effort and I am sure it will not satisfy Ministers.
4. Subject to your views and those of Mr Hurst I would like to suggest to Mr Stewart that, as agreed at the last Standing Committee meeting, he writes to the Chief Secretary emphasising yet again the importance attached to this subject by Ministers. At the same time, it would, I think, be useful if we could suggest areas where we consider improvement to be particular necessary.
24 November 1977
J Thompson
Hong Kong & General Dept K 245
233 4377
CONFIDENTIAL