CONFIDENTIAL
- 4
the Hong Kong Government have the means to resist
such a campaign.
7. The communists have tried to exploit alleged
inadequacies in the social welfare and labour
policies of the Hong Korg Government. The Government
have faced unique problems in that more than a million
refugees have entered the Colony since the communists
took power in China. The Government's project for
the resettlement of squatters and refugees in large
estates is probably the greatest single rehousing
operation that has taken place in Asia since the war.
A million people have been resettled since the
programme started in 1954: this represents more
than a quarter of the entire population of the
Colony. Jut, given the scale of the problems posed
by the influx of refugees and by the rapidity of
economic development, there were bound to be instances
of hardship and social injustice. The Hong Kong
Government are well aware of this, and are making a
serious and determined effort to put them right.
Recent improvements have been made in labour legis-
lation, notably the decision to introduce by
progressive stages a 48-hour working week for
women and young persons in industry.
CONFIDENTIAL
/8.
Page 60Page 61
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.