EMPLOYMENT
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allegiance to opposing political groups. Divided politically, and further splintered by language, the number of unions has grown beyond practical needs, and divergent loyalties have prevented those with common interests from amalgamating into effective organizations. Ignorance of trade union movement principles makes it difficult to improve this structure.
The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions supports the Chinese People's Republic. Most of the members of its 63 affiliated unions are concentrated in shipyards, textile mills and public utilities, or are seafarers. A further 27 unions, nominally inde- pendent, align themselves with the federation and take part in its activities. Early in the year, the federation allocated funds to affiliated unions whose members were affected by the fire in Fuk Wah Village and offered free medical treatment in FTU clinics to all workers and their families who were victims. During the water crisis, a delegation from the federation called at the Colonial Secretariat and the Labour Department to inform Government of the effects of the water shortage on industry and presented letters putting forward suggestions for improving the situation.
The other trade union federation, the Hong Kong and Kowloon Trades Union Council, sympathizes with the policies of the Taiwan authorities. Most of the members of its 63 affiliated unions and of the 43 nominally independent unions, which generally support the TUC, are employed in the catering and building trades. Although the number of unions sympathetic to it far exceed those adhering to the FTU, both the declared and estimated paid-up membership figures of the TUC unions are very much lower than those in the other group. The TUC is affiliated to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. Five officers from unions affiliated or friendly to the TUC attended a trade union education course in Taiwan organized by the Asian Regional Office of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU—- ARO). In November, five other officers attended a 15-days' seminar in Bombay to study the role of trade unions in economic develop- ment. In conjunction with the ICFTU-ARO, the TUC organized one simple and two advanced training courses in trade union education. As a number of medical clinics are operated by trade unions, the TUC showed considerable concern over the new