CONFIDENTIAL
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in the list as well as on Convention No 101 on Holidays with Pay (Agriculture) but that they would not be able to take action on (v) until 1978. In short, the Hong Kong Government's target was more ambitious than Lord Goronwy-Roberts' and consisted of improved declarations in respect of 5 Conventions in 1976 (as compared to 3) and 4 in 1977. Lord Goronwy-Roberts reported this encouraging development to the previous Secretary of State in his minute of
6 October and, on Mr Crosland's instructions, the Private Office informed Number Ten. The Prime Minister subsequently informed Parliament, in answer to a Supplementary Question by Mr Mike Thomas MP on 2 December, of the number of ILO Conventions that the Hong Kong Government expected to deal with in 1976 and 1977.
3. In the event, the Hong Kong Government were able to make improved declarations on 4 Conventions by January of this year but action in respect of Convention No 94 on Labour Clauses (Public Contracts) has had to be carried forward to this year owing to difficulties encountered during consultations with the Building Contractors Association Ltd. Thus, the Hong Kong Government have, including this Convention, set themselves the following programme for this year:
(i)
(ii)
No 17 on Workmen's Compensation (Accidents); No 42 on Workmen's Compensation (Occupational Diseases) (Revised);
(iii)
No 90 on Nightwork of Young Persons (Industry) (Revised);
(iv)
(v)
(vi)
No 92 on Accommodation of Crews (Revised) (already done);
No 94 on Labour Clauses (Public Contracts); and No 101 on Holidays with Pay (Agriculture).
In addition, the Hong Kong Government have informed us that they will be examining nine other Conventions, including Convention No 32 on Protection Against Accidents (Dockers) (Revised), (v2) in Lord Goronwy-Roberts' original list, with a view to making improvements in subsequent years.
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