36
EMPLOYMENT
politically, the number of unions has grown beyond practical needs, and divergent loyalties have prevented those with common interests from amalgamating into effective organisations.
The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions is a left-wing organisation. Most of the members of its 66 affiliated unions are concentrated in shipyards, textile mills, and public utilities. A further 26 unions, nominally independent, are friendly towards the federation and participate in its activities. The Hong Kong and Kowloon Trades Union Council has right-wing sympathies. Most of the members of its 85 affiliated unions and of the nine nominally independent unions which generally support the Trades Union Council, are employed in the catering and building trades. The Trades Union Council is affiliated to the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions.
=
There are 105 independent unions some of which continue to make improve- ments in their internal administration and in the services offered to their members.
The legal requirements regarding the registration and control of trade unions are specified in the Trade Unions Ordinance which is administered by the Registrar of Trade Unions.
Of the 347 unions on the register at the end of the year, 291 were employees' unions with a total declared membership of 296,481, a further 44 were organisations of merchants or employers with a declared membership of 4,939, and 12 were mixed organisations with a total declared membership of 6,047.
Labour Administration and Services
The Labour Department continued to expand during 1974 and now has an es- tablishment of 744. The services of the department in the New Territories have been extended during the year. A branch office was established at Tai Po in October 1974. In urban areas, further branch offices within easy access of the public have been es- tablished in Wan Chai and Shau Kei Wan. This network of offices plays a significant role in dealing promptly with labour matters.
The Commissioner for Labour is "the principal adviser to the government on
labour matters. He is also the Commissioner of Mines.
Labour legislation is initiated in the Labour Department which also ensures that Hong Kong's obligations under international labour conventions are observed. The department is organised into six divisions-labour relations, industry, employment, industrial health, industrial training, and development.
During the year, the labour relations division dealt with 5,878 labour problems, most of which were of a grievance nature involving individuals in claims of wages in arrears, wages in lieu of notice, and holiday pay. There were 22 work stoppages and the number of working days lost in these disputes was 10,708, compared with 56,691 in 54 work stoppages in 1973.
The Labour Tribunal Ordinance, enacted in March 1972, came into operation in March 1973. The tribunal, which is part of the Judiciary, provides a quick, simple