CO129-608-5 Future policy- port administration 20-3-1948 - 19-10-1948 — Page 26

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4. I appreciate the practical difficulties

which you describe in securing suitable

labour representation on the Committee.

therefore agree to your suggestion that

the Port Committee should be asked to

consider the advisability of adding to

Officer their numbers by the appointment of Mr Baker

of the Labour Department to hold a

watching brief for labour interests.

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also agree with you that this should be

regarded as a temporary measure, to be in

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force only until the trade unions become

sufficiently developed to have direct

representation.

It has been suggested that it migh

suitable if the Commissioner of Labour

rather than one of his officers, were to

represent labour interests on the Committee

during this interim period. If you have not

already done so, you may perhaps care to give consideration to this suggestion. I observe that you refer to the Hong Kong Seaman's Union as the body to which you would naturally turn

for nominations to the Committee. Does this

body include shøre labour, which presumably is the type of labour with the greatest claim

to representation on the Committee?

Doubtless

consideration will be given to this point

when the Trade Unions have developed sufficiently

to permit direct representation on the Port Committee.

5.

Sipin

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