CO129-626-3 Labour Department- report to Labour Commissioner 1-3-1951 - 30-6-1952 — Page 4

4

Kowloon Trades Union Council, a society with Kuomintang sympathies.

of the remaining unions, 45 with membership of 48,413 are affiliated to the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions a Communist

-

organisation in close touch with the Chinese Communist Party in Canton and probably completely dominated by them.

This position is extremely undesirable, and in the event of co-ordinated strike action, could bring the Government of the Colony to a standstill.

In view of the special privileges accorded Governments Servants, it is proposed that no Government servant should be a member of any trade union, the membership of which is not confined exclusively to Government servants except with the specific consent of the Governor.

tions.

Little is known of the 72 Employers Associa-

About half the registered trade unions are controlled by one or other of the Federations, the remainder have resisted domination.

Recently new unions have been formed, particularly in the utilities industries, because of the dissatisfaction of the members with organisations under the control of the Federations.

There is the usual tendency among members to regard unions as a group of officials to decide policy and secure higher rates of pay.

Industrial grievances in some instances are very real and it is an unfortunate truism that strikes which produce favourable results from the workers point of view, encourage further strikes.

The average trade union is badly managed, many being conducted for the benefit of the few leaders. The secret ballot is unknown and intimida- tion widespread. The attitude of many members is to regard the payment of their subscriptions as an insurance that they will be left to work in peace. The reformation of the majority of the existing trade unions is a formidable task - and will take a long time. It cannot be shouldered entirely by the Department of Labour whose function in the future should be to advise. The staff of the Department of Labour must be strictly impartial in all their dealings. Increased prestige would accrue if the status of the Commissioner of Labour was made equivalent to the Secretary for Chinese Affairs.

A close watch on the utilisation of the funds of the trade unions, particularly during the

/formative