TNAG-0088-FCO40-124-Social-welfare-working-conditions-in-Hong-Kong-1967 — Page 106

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CONFIDENTIAL

INWARD TELEGRAM

TO THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

(The Secretary of State)

FROM HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)

D. 15th February 1967 R. 15th

11

RECEIVED IN ARCHIVES No. 62

15 FEB 967

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(26) Your telegram No.292.

Labour Advisory Board.

Constitution of Labour Advisory Board for 1967 is

unchanged from previous years.

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The proposed reconstitution envisages an expanded membership of both employers' and workers' representatives on a broader basis. Workers' representation would have to include at least one or two members from the left wing Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions for the expansion to be meaningful. The Federation has consistently refused in the past to co- operate with the Labour Department. Unless the Federation is prepared to show some willingness to participate, plans for reconstitution would have to be revised. Without Federation's participation, the balance of representation of left wing and right wing workers and of employers and workers would be upset. Only alternative would be larger representation of neutral or right wing workers which is not considered necessary or

repicental politically desirable at present.

30 Strong opposition by the Hong Kong Seamen's Union, (the leading F.T.U. trade union) to the Seamen's recruiting office: cultural revolution in China: and the recent disturbances in Macau have, in turn, made it impolitic to approach the Federation to ascertain its response to a' proposal for co-operation. There is no early prospect of any move in this direction and it is likely that the constitution of Board will remain unchanged throughout 1967. Indeed the prospects of persuading the Federation to co-operate at any time in the foreseeable future are, in my judgment, in any case very slight to non-existent.

4. Plans for reconstitution stand and can be revived at short notice if circumstances warrant.

Copy sent to:

Foreign Office Mr. Foggon

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