iving.
Dretton 12284/17/50
rom the Secretary of State for the Colonies.
To the Officer Administering the Government of
Date
23
August, 1950.
No......
84 Saving.
PRIORITY CONFIDENTIAL
HONG KONG
1928
Wages in textile industry.
In paragraph V of the Report on the application of the International Labour Convention concerning the creation of minimum wage-fixing machinery (No.26), enclosed with your Despatch No. 149 of the 11th August, 1949, the Acting Commissioner of Labour stated that if no fresh voluntary agreement on wages were reached in the textile industry, it might be necessary to set up a Trade Board for the industry under the Trades Boards Ordinance of 1940. I should be glad to know whether the employers are still showing a reluctance to enter into an agreement with the trade unions and, if so, whether you consider that the wage levels at present obtaining in the industry are
sufficiently low to make the establishment of a Trade Board desirable.
2. This is, no doubt, a matter which you would wish to discuss with Mr. Houghton on his forthcoming visit to the Colony but, as you are aware, the wages situation in the Hong Kong textile industry is one in which I am particularly interested and I should be grateful for any preliminary comments you may have on the present position and the suggestion contained in the above paragraph.
SECER
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.