TNAG-0088-FCO40-124-Social-welfare-working-conditions-in-Hong-Kong-1967 — Page 22

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References.

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN

(Q2783) 68833/8371 2M.P 4/62 AT&S. 768.

keep the members informed as to decisions taken

Le

but should not have thought it was necessary

to enter into any further discussions or

consultations with members of the Working Party.

I should be grateful for your urgent comments.

2 us regards the reaction of Hong Kongy

manufacturers to outside pressure for better,

labour conditions, these arguments are familiar

and were used, for example, in 1958 when pressure

was exerted to reduce the hours of work for women

and young persons from 12 per day to 10. At that

time this was announced as a first step towards

further improvement but after a lapse of 9 years

we have got no further than the consideration of

in/pra

regulations which in practical effect will leave

untouched the hours of work in those industries

where excessive hours are the general rule. Against

this background it is not clear how any progress

is to be made in bringing the hours of work of

liong Kong women and young persons into line with

other Asian countries without outside pressure

since the initiative for change seems unlikely to

crise in Hong Kong itself.

སྐྱ

We

As regards your paragraph 5 fully Aise the dangers to which you refer and

realise with equal force the difficulties that you

are up against. The reaction of Hong Kong

manufacturers is doubtless unchanged since 1958 when

pressure was exerted to reduce the daily maxinum

hours of work for women and young persons from

12 10. At that time the reduction was announced

But

as a first step towards further im rovement.Kine

years have now elapsed since that step was taken;

and we have got no further than the consideration

/of

*

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