39
The Character of the Hong Kong Labour Movement
57.
59 ST.
The short answer is that, with few significant
exceptions, the so-called trade unions of Hong Kongare not
trade unions in any normal sense at all, but a locally-specific combination of friendly society and politico-cultural organisation,,
which the political situation of Hong Kong has obliged to adopt
the formal appearance of trade unions and to fulfil (under pressure
both from the Labour Department and their members) certain trade
union functions. The operations of collective bargaining and
grievance settlement represent, in general, a minor part of their
activity. The recently-retired Registrar of Trade Unions, for
instance, a man of long experience, could name only two employee
organisations as "high-powered trade unions" (meaning bodies.
with a specifically-orientated drive toward economic collective
organisation and occupational advancement); the Cable and Wireless
Non-expatriate Staff Association and the Professional Teachers'
Union (each of which has a certain record of successful action
in recent major disputes). And our own interviews would certainly
κούλι
confirm that the latter, at least, is distinctive.
10 58.
Employee organisations registered as trade unions, in
fact, are engaged in a considerable number of activities of a social
cultural and recreational, or quasi-political character, which in
many cases clearly represent their major function. These include
the provision of friendly benefits, accomodation or housing for
members, the operation of schools, the organisation of social
activities, and so on. Even had not the local trade union
/ordinances
Page 120Page 121