34
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT
:
:
:
123
127
130
129
132
124
119
119
The Retail Price Index covers a wide range of commodities and is weighted according to a budgetary survey carried out in 1948. The base of 100 is for March 1947 and, although the expenditure pattern used for weighting is that of the artisan and white collar worker, the Index gives a fair reflection of general changes in the cost of living.
1
LABOUR ADMINISTRATION
Government's responsibilities in labour matters are dealt with by the Labour Department and the Registry of Trade Unions.
Labour Department. The Commissioner of Labour is the prin- cipal adviser to the Government on all matters connected with labour and industrial relations. He is ex-officio Chairman of the Labour Advisory Board, on which both employers and employed are represented, and which is consulted on all legislative matters affecting labour. The Commissioner is also Chairman of the Standing Committee on Technical Education and Vocational Training, an ex-officio member of the Port Committee and a member of the Kwun Tong Advisory Committee concerned with the provisions of industrial sites. Concurrently he is Commissioner of Mines. The registration of trade unions, formerly a function of the Labour Department, has been undertaken by the Registrar of Trade Unions since 1954.
The Labour Department is responsible for the initial preparation of all labour legislation and keeps under review the legislative and administrative arrangements for giving effect to the Colony's obligations under International Labour conventions. It carries out the registration and inspection of industrial undertakings to ensure, in particular, safe and healthy conditions of work. It acts as a channel of conciliation in disputes between trade unions and employers and individual workmen and employers. It provides advice and assistance to trade unions in the management of their