C 8
GENERAL.
40. Mr. H. R. Butters, who was appointed Labour Officer at the end of 1938, completed his survey of labour and labour conditions in the Colony and submitted a report to Government which was subsequently published as Sessional Paper No. 3 of 1939.
41. The report advocates the enactment of legislation to provide for the registration of Trade Unions, the establishment of Trade Boards and Workmen's Compensation. Draft Bills have been prepared and are being considered by Government.
42. The report also recommends an extensive Labour Ordinance governing conditions of labour in the Colony generally and providing for a labour Inspectorate under the direction of the Labour Officer. Owing, however, to the transfer of the Labour Officer on 27th November, 1939, the drafting of this Ordinance has not yet been completed.
COST OF LIVING OF POORER CLASSES.
43. There was a distinct rise in the cost of commodities (rice, oil, fish, meat, vegetables and firewood) generally consumed by the poorer classes and it is estimated that the cost of a normal working class family budget (excluding clothes and rent) was at the end of the year about 20% higher than at the beginning of the year, and also higher than at any time since October, 1937. The rise accelerated towards the end of the year and the indications were that it would continue. There was, however, no appreciable variation in the cost of clothes. It is difficult to obtain reliable figures for the rents paid by sub-tenants in working class tenements, but the tendency for rents to rise was no doubt checked to some extent by the Prevention of Eviction Ordinance, 1938.
44. By the end of the year the price of oil had risen by over 60% and price of rice by over 12% as compared with the beginning of the year, a contributory factor in these increases being the outbreak of the European War and the consequent increased cost of freight.
CHINESE TEMPLES.
(ORDINANCE 7 of 1928.)
(Tables XXV and XXVI.)
45. The following gentlemen served on the Chinese Temples Committee during the year :-
(a) Hon. Sir Robert H. Kotewall, Kt., C.M.G., LL.D., Hon. Mr. T. N. Chau, C.B.E., Hon. Mr. M. K. Lo, and Hon. Dr. Li Shu-fan- Chinese Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils.
(b) Mr. Tang Shiu-kin, M.B.E.,-Representative of the District Watch Committee.
(c) Mr. Tang Shiu-kin, M.B.E., Mr. W. N. Thomas Tam and Mr. B. Wong-Tape Chinese Members of the Urban Council.
(d) Mr. Chau Shiu-ng--Chairman of the Tung Wah Hospital Committee.
(e) Mr. Ngan Shing-kwan-Chairman of the Po Leung Kuk Committee.
(f) Mr. Lo Min-nung-Representative of the Directors of the Tung Wah Hospital who are residents of Kowloon or New Kowloon.
(g) Secretary for Chinese Affairs (Chairman).
C 8
GENERAL.
40. Mr. H. R. Butters, who was appointed Labour Officer at the end of 1938, completed his survey of labour and labour conditions in the Colony and submitted a report to Government which was subsequently published as Sessional Paper No. 3 of 1939.
41. The report advocates the enactment of legislation to provide for the registration of Trade Unions, the establishment of Trade Boards and Workmen's Compensation. Draft Bills have been prepared and are being considered by Govern-
ment.
42. The report also recommends an extensive Labour Ordinance governing conditions of labour in the Colony generally and providing for a labour Inspectorate under the direction of the Labour Officer. Owing, however, to the transfer of the Labour Officer on 27th November, 1939, the drafting of this Ordinance has not yet been completed.
COST OF LIVING OF POORER CLASSES.
43. There was a distinct rise in the cost of commodities (rice, oil, fish, meat, vegetables and firewood) generally consumed by the poorer classes and it is estimated that the cost of a normal working class family budget (excluding clothes and rent) was at the end of the year about 20% higher than at the beginning of the year, and also higher than at any time since October, 1937. The rise accelerated to- wards the end of the year and the indications were that it would continue. There was, however, no appreciable variation in the cost of clothes. It is difficult to obtain reliable figures for the rents paid by sub-tenants in working class tenements, but the tendency for rents to rise was no doubt checked to some extent by the Prevention of Eviction Ordinance, 1938.
44. By the end of the year the price of oil had risen by over 60% and price of rice by over 12% as compared with the beginning of the year, a contributory factor in these increases being the outbreak of the European War and the con- sequent increased cost of freight.
CHINESE TEMPLES.
(ORDINANCE 7 of 1928.)
(Tables XXV and XXVI.)
45. The following gentlemen served on the Chinese Temples Committee during the year :-
(a) Hon. Sir Robert H. Kotewall, Kt., c.M.G., LL.D., Hon. Mr. T. N. Chau, C.B.E., Hon. Mr. M. K. Lo, and Hon. Dr. Li Shu-fan- Chinese Members of the Executive and Legislative Councils.
(b) Mr. Tang Shiu-kin, M.B.E.,-Representative of the District Watch
Committee.
(c) Mr. Tang Shiu-kin, M.B.E., Mr. W. N. Thomas Tam and Mr. B. Wong-
Tape Chinese Members of the Urban Council.
(d) Mr. Chau Shiu-ng--Chairman of the Tung Wah Hospital Committee.
(e) Mr. Ngan Shing-kwan-Chairman of the Po Leung Kuk Committee.
(f) Mr. Lo Min-nung-Representative of the Directors of the Tung Wah Hospital who are residents of Kowloon or New Kowloon.
(9) Secretary for Chinese Affairs (Chairman).
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