CO129-626-3 Labour Department- report to Labour Commissioner 1-3-1951 - 30-6-1952 — Page 98

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322. Judicious publicity can steer the thoughts of employers and workers, who after all form the bulk of the adult population into desired channels and this method of gove.nental propaganda is worthy or fuller use.

323. The Trade Unions and especially the so-called Federations suffer from no such inhibitions in this respect and seem to make the fullest use of the press on every possible occasion. One of the federations has just made detailed proposals for a comprehensive Social Security Scheme which looks very attrac- tive to the worke.s on paper and will be very useful propaganda from the Federations point of view. The scheme, however, has no actuarial basis whatever and the proposers merely assume that 5% plus 10% plus 10% of wage rates contribut- ed by the workers, the employe. s and the Government respectively is feasible and will meet all payments covering Old Age Pensions unlimited Unemployment Benefits, Maternity Allowances and "no claim bonuses" and loans to workers. Whether such a scheme is practicable or not does not worry the Federation who have got the publicity they desire and have demonstrated, they hope, that the Federation is doing all it can for the workers. They no doubt trust that their action will result in further unions joining the Federation and thus increasing their income.

324. The Federation whose leaders are by no means inexperienced also succeed in getting in political propa, anda by hanging it on to some labour matter. For instance the Communist Federation of Trade Unions recently issued an appeal for relief work for the unemployed and their manifesto suggested the following measures. -

(a) develop new sources of supply in view of the

American embargo,

(b) promote trade with New China;

(c) abolish control of immigration;

(a) reduce taxation,

(e) grant loans to factories.

Even the officers of this Federation cannot believe that the free ingress of Chinese into Hong Kong will help in any way to ease the unemployment situation in the Colony. They have, however, got publicity for their political points and at the same time have made proposals likely to appeal to many Chinese workers and employers.

325. The worker's knowledge of what is being done on his behalf and for his benefit is culled from gossip and the newspapers. The former is no doubt largely based on the latter and it therefore seems very desirable that the Department of Labour should get regular and adequate press publicity.

326. It is accordingly recommended that from time to time the Department should give press conferences, if necesary with the assistance of the Public Relations Officer. To begin with, it could explain what is being done from day to day by way of conciliation, the settlement of minor disputes and inspections designed to maintain reasonable and safe conditions of work. It could then put forward a statement of its agreed policy and explain it; the public would be interested in this. The position regarding the introduction of Workinen's Compensa- tion could be explained and it could usefully be mentioned that many firms are already, complying with the Ordinance although it is not yet law. This kind of information would be news, the kind of news for which the press is always seeking. Such action may also encourage further employers to follow a similar line.