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present state of affairs, mainly based on the need to remain competitive and the difficulty of enforcement. Nevertheless, by comparison with some of Hong Kong's Asian neighbours and
commercial competitors, there appear to be some cause for criticism, namely:-
13.
(a) the absence of statutory minimum wages for low-
paid occupations;
(b) the absence of limitations on the hours of work of males or of statutory provision for proper overtime
rates;
(c) poor provision for statutory holidays with pay (6) as compared with, say, 11 in Singapore, 13 in
Taiwan and 12 in Indonesia. There is no provision for
paid vacation leave, which exists in all the countries mentioned here;
(a) the provision of four rest days a month to manual
workers and not, as required by the International Labour Convention, one rest day per week.
Even Hong Kong's critics acknowledge the valuable role played by the Government's Department of Labour in ameliorating conditions in the Colony in recent years; but they remain uncon- vinced that more cannot be done and suspect that resistance
to change is often encountered amongst the members of the Executive and Legislative Councils and among senior officials. There appears to be some justification for this view;
but it is impossible to be sure because any resistance is encountered behind the scenes and not in the public sessions of the Legislative Council.
Institutions
14.
Further social progress in Hong Kong will depend on growing public support for the necessary legislation and acceptance of higher taxation. The normal method for mobili- sing this through democratic representative institutions is precluded in the case of Hong Kong. China's opposition to the development of such institutions which could affect their claim to sovereignty and could lead to growth of KMT influence in the Colony is well understood by the local population.
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