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5. Mr Jones said that the chances of raising living standards in Hong Kong through trade unionists seemed remote on the Professor's assessment and he asked what alternatives there were to unions to bring about an improvement in conditions and to deal with the problem of cheap labour in Hong Kong. The introduction of a minimum wage offered one means.
6. Professor Turner agreed but said that there was need of a great deal of information on earnings before a minimum could be set. There would have to be a census of earnings before firm proposals could be made.
7. He expressed the view that Hong Kong should not be thought of as a cheap labour economy. Wages and prices had risen fast in recent years and were higher than in other countries in Asia. No doubt pockets of cheap labour did persist but it was difficult to assess real standards of living because of the many bonuses and fringe benefits provided by employers in the modern industrial sector. There were very many small firms which made little social provision for their employees and there was need for the extension of social protection through the provision of low-cost housing, which the Hong Kong authorities had in hand, and an expansion of secondary school education so that the effective school leaving age could be raised to the minimum age of employment. The present gap should be closed by 1980. About a quarter of employers provided pensions for their employees. Contrary to common belief there was widespread support for a contributory pension scheme, even among those workers who would expect to receive a pension after 1997. In fact the end of the lease of the Colony was not regarded as a significant date among the population and it did not seem to be in the interest of the People's Republic to change the status of Hong Kong which was the source of the greater part of her foreign currency holdings and the channel of her trade with the rest of the world.
8. Mr Jones thanked Professor Turner and Dr Fosh for answering his questions and amplifying the conclusions of the interim and provisional report. His own view was that action should be taken by the Hong Kong Government to extend the provision of social security and that means should be found - not necessarily through organisations called trade unions of meeting the need for workers representation at the workplace. A minimum wage and raising the school leaving age were also important. Professor Turner said that he had some ideas in mind about the development of workers representation at workplace level which he would test out on his return to Hong Kong.
Meeting with the ITF, at Clapham 12.00 noon
9. The party went on to meet Mr C Blyth and Mr H Lewis, general secretary and assistant general secretary respectively of the International Transport Workers' Federation. Mr Blyth said that he had attempted to assist the Hong Kong Seamens Union in 1965-6 but
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