P
VAL-
14
布政司署
教育統籌科
香港下亞厘畢道
(37) in EMB 151/3/5683/58
本署檔號 OUR REF.:
來函檔號 YOUR REF:
Mr Alan Jinkinson
General Secretary
LAST
National and Local Government
Officers Association
Nalgo 1 Mabledon Place
London WC1H 9AJ United Kingdom
EDUCATION AND MANPOWER BRANCH
GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT,
Lower Albert Road,
Hong Kong
28 August 1992
ра
por. 031/18 (120)
Dear Mr Jinkinson,
I refer to your letter dated 29 July 1992 addressed to the Governor and am authorized to reply on his behalf.
My comments on the points raised in your letter are set out below
(1) Application of ILO conventions in Hong Kong
(2)
It is incorrect to say that ILO conventions are not being observed in Hong Kong now. At present, Hong Kong applies 48 conventions, 29 in full and 19 with modification. This figure compares favourably with
most members of the ILO in the region.
Freedom of Association (ILO Convention No. 87)
As you
rightly mentioned, the Governor has so far given consent to all applications from trade unions for external
affiliation.
Hong Kong encourages international co-operation and exchanges and no barrier is imposed on affiliation of local trade unions with bona fide international labour organizations. The requirement for the Governor's approval is to ensure that local unions will not be controlled by outside organizations of dubious design.
are
I
As regards your understanding that trade unions currently not allowed to form federations, this is, am afraid, a misconception. Our Trade Union Ordinance provides for the formation of trade union federations comprising unions whose members are engaged or employed in the same trade, industry or occupation.
International Labour convention No. 87 applies to Hong Kong with modifications on the formation of trade union federations and external affiliation.
The modification in respect of formation of federations is necessary to promote the formation of federations of members sharing common or identical interests rather than those with diverse interests as would be the case if they came from different trades, industries or occupations. This is allowed under Article 35 of ILO Constitution.