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5.
5 of this recommendation runs as follows:
"Where the duration of the normal working week exceeds forty-eight hours, immediate steps should be taken to bring it down to this level without any reduction in the wages of the workers as at the time hours of work are reduced."
From information available, it seems likely that, with the possible exception of Afghanistan, Hongkong is the only Asian country which permits a normal working week of over 48 hours for women in industrial employment.
6.
After considering the report of the working party and the recommendations of its chairman, the Governor, on the advice of members of Executive Council, has ordered that the Commissioner of Labour should approach the Labour Advisory Board for its advice on certain proposals in the form of amendments to the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Regulations. These proposals would permit the Labour Commissioner to reduce working hours of women and young persons in any particular industrial undertaking or class of industrial undertaking to not less than 8 hours a day and 48 hours a week. There is no intention to legislate for men. In the first instance, hours of work for women and young persons would be reduced in only those industries already working an 8-hours day, thus bringing legislation into line with current practice. Subsequently, the extent to which an 8-hours day was worked by women and young persons in other industries would be examined and, where it is the common but not the universal practice to work an 8-hours day, hours of work would be reduced to bring all industrial undertakings in those industries in line with common practice. Further, the hours of work of women and young persons in particular industries would be examined with a view to prescribing standard working hours for each day and for each week in accordance with those actually worked by all or by the great majority of undertakings. These standard working hours would be not more than 10 and not less than 8 a day and not more than 60 and not less than 48 a week. Interim arrangements would be made to provide for a transitional period of six months to give particular firms which did not follow common practice a reasonable time in which to fall in line.
7.
To carry out these proposals some amendments would be necessary to the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Regulations. Two specific amendments are considered necessary. It is not intended otherwise to change the existing provisions in the regulations including powers which the Commissioner of Labour already possesses to prohibit overtime, to extend periods of employment, hours of work, and overtime in classes or descriptions of industrial undertakings subject to seasonal or other special pressures, and to authorise increased overtime where the increase is deemed necessary by reason of unforeseen pressure of work due to sudden orders, or of breakdown of machinery or plant, or of other unforeseen omergency.
8.
The first amendment would involve Regulation 9 to permit the making of statutory orders in respect of any class or description of Factories and industries whereby the maximum working hours in a day and a week and the Industrial maximum periods of employment may be reduced as follows :
Undertakings Regulations enclosed.
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Private notes are available after approval.