+
TUESDAY, JULY 24, 1984
WITHIN A MARXIST COUNTRY, THE UNION WAS UNDER THE STRICT NTCL OF THE PARTY, AND BY AND LARGE, WAS USED TO ENFORCE SCIPLINE, SOMETIMES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FACTORY SECURITY OR THE MILITIA, HE STATED,
+THIS, AS FAR AS I CAN GATHER, IS STILL SO IN CHINA FOR EXAMPLE, IN SPITE OF THE REFORMS AND SEPARATION OF POWERS WHICH ARE NOW BEGINNING AS A RESULT OF THE 13TH NATIONAL CONGRESS OF UNIONS IN OCTOBER 1983, + HE SAID.
+SUCH CONTROL AND PRESSURE FROM A POLITICAL PARTY IS OF COURSE CONTRARY TO THE WHOLE IDEA OF THE FREEDOM IN WHICH UNION MEMBERS CAN DECIDE FOR THEMSELVES WHAT THEY WANT, BALANCED OF COURSE IN A FREE SOCIETY BY DUE REGARD FOR THE RIGHTS OF OWNERS AND THE GOOD OF THE COMMUNITY, HE SAID.
HE CONCEDED THAT IN HONG KONG THE FREE UNION MOVEMENT WAS STILL VERY WEAK DUE TO A VARIETY OF REASONS.
+BUT EVEN IF NOT EXERCISED, THE RIGHT TO ORGANISE IS THERE AND MUST BE PROTECTED IN THE FUTURE OTHERWISE THE FREEDOM TO WORK IN THE EMPLOYMENT OF ONE'S CHOICE, AND ALL THOSE OTHER WORKERS' RIGHTS PROTECTED BY FREE UNIONS, WILL BE ENDANGERED, HE SAID,
SOCIAL WELFARE PROVISION MUST BE PRESERVED
****
-
HO
IF THE NEW ADMINISTRATION OF THE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION AFTER 1997 INTENDED TO KEEP THE CURRENT LIVING STANDARDS AND LIFESTYLE OF THE PEOPLE UNDISTURBED, IT WAS IMPERATIVE AT LEAST TO PRESERVE THE EXISTING SOCIAL WELFARE PROVISION, DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI SAID IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE TODAY.
TO THIS END, HE ADDED, CERTAIN CONDITIONS HAD TO BE KEPT OR MET AND THESE CONDITIONS SHOULD BE ENSHRINED IN THE AGREEMENT OR THE BASIC LAW.
THESE CONDITIONS ARE:
* THE FUTURE GOVERNMENT MUST RECOGNISE THE TENETS OF
INDIVIDUAL DIGNITY AND HUMAN RIGHTS, SO THAT THE WISHES AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE INDIVIDUAL CITIZEN WOULD NOT BE SUBORDINATED TO POLITICAL AND IDEOLOGICAL ENDS ;
*
THE PROVISION OF WELFARE SERVICES IS TO MAXIMISE THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN POTENTIAL RATHER THAN TO SERVE POLITICAL OBJECTIVES;
/* VOLUNTARY AGENCIES