20
EMPLOYMENT
Under the United Kingdom Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962, a Hong Kong-born Chinese or a Commonwealth citizen able to prove British nationality and wishing to go to Britain to work must apply to the Ministry of Labour in Britain for a voucher before entry can be considered. The voucher, if granted, is dis- tributed through the Labour Department which, during 1965, distributed 404 vouchers. A Hong Kong Chinese Liaison Office, established to meet the growing need for assistance felt by Hong Kong workers in Britain, is now located at 58 Pall Mall, London SW1. Its function is to render all possible assistance to Chinese from Hong Kong who are working in Britain with regard to employ- ment, family problems, etc, and to establish contacts with the main centres of employment of Chinese in-Britain.
In August 1964, to meet a shortage of labour in the local market, the Labour Department set up an employment information service. During 1965, 1,168 people made use of the service. Lists of in- dustrial vacancies were also supplied to 17 voluntary agencies and 36 kaifong associations engaged in placement work.
It is reliably estimated that some 35,000 seamen of Chinese race, many of them resident in Hong Kong, find employment at sea in various trades. Many of these are, however, nationals of China. Further progress was made in improving the manner in which seamen are recruited in Hong Kong and by the end of the year arrangements were almost complete for setting up a seamen's recruiting office as part of the Marine Department.
WAGES AND CONDITIONS OF WORK
Most semi-skilled and unskilled workers in the manufacturing industry are on daily rates of pay, although piece rates are also paid. While men and women receive the same rates of pay for piece work, the latter are generally paid less than men when engaged on a time basis. Wages may be calculated on an hourly, daily or monthly basis and are customarily paid weekly or twice monthly.
During the year nearly all the public utility companies were presented with demands for wage increases by their workers either through the trade unions concerned or through the medium of ad hoc 'committees' set up by the unions. Most of these demands were settled by direct negotiation. Generally, an increase of approx- imately $30 a month in basic pay was granted, taking effect from