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central to its interests than the ILO. However he considers that we should use the present fund of goodwill that now exists with China in order to push through as many reforms as possible that are advantageous to Hong Kong, including especially a tripartite delegation to the 1986 Conference. Participation at the Asian Regional Conference would create a useful precedent. The ILO would not be too concerned over the type of representation which Hong Kong would have at Jakarta, but it could be beneficial for Hong Kong in creating a precedent for next year's ILO Conference and being seen as such by the Chinese. Mr Chen said that if we could not agree to Hong Kong sending a tripartite delegation to next year's Conference, one alternative would be to have a larger Hong Kong delegation sitting with us. He would of course prefer us to agree to tripartite status for Hong Kong.
6. We must now await a formal approach from Mr Chen. However, we should need to come to a decision on this issue in time for the ILO's Governing Body meeting next November. Mr Robinson, DE, will be the UK Government member and will have to be briefed to raise the subject formally to obtain the Governing Body's agreement. The ILA would also have to obtain the prior consent of the CBI and TUC.
7. For the record, I found Mr Chen very impressive, much more so than his boss, the Labour Commissioner, Mr Bridge, who attended last year's Conference. Mr Chen used his initiative in meeting the Chinese on various occasions, who incidentally commented on first meeting him how pleased they were to see a Chinese representing Hong Kong, on the Delegation. He also made a point of meeting the visiting Hong Kong 'trade unionists' during the Conference, although only one turned up for the meeting, Mr Lau Chin Sek, as the others were sightseeing (Hong Kong telegram No 858 of 6 May refers). He was informed that they had met Mr Osakei, an official of the Labour Law and Labour Relations Branch of the ILO. Although Mr Chen has only recently taken over his present post having recently transferred from the Culture Department, he seems to be well aware of all the varying aspects relating to the post.
ayout ce
2 July 1985
па
Many Maneli
(Miss) M J Maxwell Office of
International Labour Adviser
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