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consequently the British Government, together with those which related to the attitudes of employers in Hong Kong, particularly with a view to securing a greater measure of consultation in Britain and in Hong Kong on legislative and administrative issues.
These matters were raised in a meeting with the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary in July, when the Parliamentary Under Secretary, .FCO, said that labour conditions were improving rapidly in Hong Kong with wages high by Asian standards and with rigorous enforcement of regulations on health and safety and on the prohibition of child labour, and that legislation was under consideration to make illegal anti-union discrimination, to provide severance payments, and to limit overtime. The view was expressed on behalf of the Government that circumstances operated in Hong Kong to prevent the development of an independent trade union movement capable of urging industrial and social reforms, and it was suggested that British trade union leaders should visit Hong Kong to review the situation. It was suggested in reply that further consideration of specific measures should precede a decision on that proposal.