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Page No. 7 of 10 pages
KMT
24.
After his return from London (para 27, January 1981 Report), the self-styled Chairman of the KMT-backed Wanderers Association reported in detail to the KMT in Taiwan. He also sought "guidance and support" for the presentation of a petition to the UN. He has since expressed confidence that funds for the trip will be forthcoming, though without specifying the source. The visit is planned for April. The Wanderers also intend to lobby Lord Carrington when he visits Hong Kong in March.
PRESSURE GROUPS
25.
It was announced during the month that the communist controlled FTU had joined three other labour groupings (the
Joint Committee of Labour Organisations, the Hong Kong Civil Servants General Union, and the Liaison Office of
Public Service Unions) in a loose coalition to campaign for
increased salaries tax allowances (para 29, January 1981 Report).
The coalition has not given itself a formal title; this reflects the desire of the FTU, and possibly others, for it to remain loosely knit. It claims to represent 145 Trade Unions, comprising a "social group" of 350,000 people. The substantial increase in allowances announced in the budget has
taken the wind out of the coalition's sails and it has yet to
make its views known on the new situation.
26.
It
During the month, the FTU clarified its position over the hotly contested proposals for bus fare increases. denied having joined any coalition to resist the increases and, while it was opposed in principle to substantial rises, it did not intend to participate in collective protest action. This statement coincided with an announcement by the Coalition against Bus Fare Increases (para 28, January 1981 Report) that it intended to extend the opposition it was offering to bus fare increases to include high rents and inflation.
/para 27.
G.F. 316
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