WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1976
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REFERRING TO THE TWO SURVEYS MENTIONED BY MR. JAMES WU, MR. PRICE SAID HE HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE DETAILS AND THEREFORE HAD NO KNOWLEDGE OF THEIR METHODOLOGY, COVERAGE AND THE WAY IN WHICH THE QUESTIONS WERE PHRASED AND PUT TO THE WORKERS.
MR. PRICE NOTED THAT THE TWO SURVEYS OF WORKERS' OPINION PRODUCED RATHER DIFFERENT RESULTS AND SAID HE DOUBTED IF EITHER WAS CONDUCTED BY A QUALIFIED INDUSTRIAL SOCIOLOGIST.
MR. PRICE SAID: +MY HONOURABLE FRIEND MR. WU HAS SPOKEN OF THE PROGRESSIVENESS OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIALISTS AND MANAGERS. I SHOULD LIKE TO REFER TO THEIR INGENUITY AND ADAPTABILITY TO MEET CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES, AND TO STATE MY BELIEF THAT BY 1980 THEY WILL EASILY HAVE ACCOMMODATED THEMSELVES TO THE NEW CONDITIONS WHICH WILL THEN PREVAIL, IF THESE REGULATIONS ARE APPROVED.+
MR. PRICE ADDED: IN CONNECTION WITH INTERNATIONAL LABOUR CONVENTIONS, I MUST COUNSEL AGAINST MAKING TOO CLOSE A COMPARISON BETWEEN SOVEREIGN STATES AND HONG KONG, IT MUST NOT BE OVERLOOKED THAT SOVEREIGN STATES DO NOT HAVE THE OPTION OF PARTIAL
APPLICATION BUT SUCH A COURSE OF ACTION IS OPEN TO HONG KONG WHICH HAS APPLIED 21 CONVENTIONS IN FULL AND 12 ONLY PARTIALLY. THEREFORE HONG KONG'S POSITION SHOULD BE SET AGAINST JAPAN'S COMPLETE RATIFICATION OF 34 CONVENTIONS.+
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