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66
B.
Points mentioned in Mr. Grossmith's letter.
What the Labour Department is doing to see that conditions are as good as possible?
(a) Hours.
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(1) Encourage workers and employers to consider reduction
in hours and bring about themselves. If any agreements contemplated suggest clause re hours. (ii) The I.Î.0. Conventions regarding hours are loyally ob-
served by the Labour Department and regulations in accordance with these are strictly enforced. Regular inspections are made to see that there are no breaches
Where of the regulations in industrial undertakings. permission for special extension of hours for women and young persons (Reg. 8(2) under the Factories and Workshops Ordinance), strict check kept on such establish- ments for hours and for overtime rates which must be paid.
(iii) This question of hours is made more difficult by the
willingness of the women to work beyond the prescribed period. It is worthy of note that on one occasion an attempt made by the union committee to include in an agreement a clause stipulating a reduction in hours, was completely defeated by the members themselves.
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Furthermore (1) from some points of view in tropical country work at night might be better for women as cooler; (2) factories are frequently less crowded and the atmosphere more wholesome than the homes of many workers as Hong Kong is so overcrowded and from point of view of health, might be better working than in own homes.
(b) Efficiency.
Many inevitable
(1) Where possible better conditions insisted on.
factories still in tenement-type buildings with overcrowding, and in proportion, small amount of building. But all those on temporary year to year registration and encouraged to rebuild either separately, if resources sufficient or, if not, in flatted-type. (11) New buildings. When plans submitted, advice from Chief
Labour Inspector re. lay-out of plant, spacing, machinery, etc. (iii) Old buildings. Advice re. rearrangement for increased
efficiency.
(iv) Chief Labour Inspector meets members of Chinese Manu-
facturers' Union to discuss problems in various in- dustries (Chairman of Chinese Manufacturers' Union is the owner of the weaving factory where the training system has been started (see (c) below)).
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(v) Gradual introduction new machinery 5 places now as
opposed to one place at beginning of year with automatic looms.
(vi) Increasing attention paid to workers' health by employers
generally. Good in spinning which is all modern, regular medical visits, etc. and qualified nurse- not so good elsewhere generally because more limited resources. It would seem that generally speaking the health is improved in comparison with pre-war.
N.B.
All foregoing should help to increase efficiency.