13
III
Explanations of Union Weakness or Industrial Relations Immaturity
27. As regards the weakness of trade unions, and the comparative
absence of labour pressure for social progress, we were given a variety
of explanations, which fall broadly into two groups. The first contains
the following complementary propositions:
(i) To quote a letter signed "A Major Hong Kong Industrial
Labour Employer" in the South China Morning Post of
8 December:
the interplay of free market
forces in improving the working conditions and
benefits realised by workers (is) a direct result of
intense competition for labour in a labour-limited
community". It is argued that the normal situation
of the labour market has been one of comparative
labour scarcity, with interruptions like the 1974
recession being (though in that case fairly intense)
rare and brief in their effects. Hong Kong is a
concentrated urban community, the labour force is
85% literate, communication via both traditional and
modern methods (the clan and the extended family on
the one hand, the prolific Chinese press and the
virtually free telephone system on the other) is high,
so that workers are made readily aware of alternative
job opportunities. The refugee background of the
labour force encouraged adaptation, flexibility and
initiative, which makes the Hong Kong worker
unusually willing to change jobs and exploit
favourable labour market situations.
(ii) Employers themselves compete freely for labour.
Moreover there is a strong paternalistic element in
their attitude, and a belief in principle that it is
both proper and wise to ensure that a share in
evident prosperity be passed on to their employees.
The bigger firms, at least (which set such pattern as
there is in wage-movements) try to "keep ahead of the
labour market" by periodic improvements in pay or
fringe benefits.
(iii) There is also in any case a high degree of informal
communication between employers and workers.
Supervisors, in the Chinese firms, act as a channel
/for