TNAG-0089-FCO40-125-Social-welfare-working-conditions-in-Hong-Kong-1968 — Page 137

Fédération Internationale des Travailleurs des Industries

du Textile et de l'Habillement

PRESIDENT:

JN E. NEWTON

VICE-PRESIDENT:

K. BUSCHMANN

Internationale Textil- und Bekleidungsarbeiter-Vereinigung

Internationella Textil- och Beklädnadsarbetarefederationen

INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE AND

GARMENT WORKERS' FEDERATION

} 120 BAKER STREET, LONDON, W.1

GENERAL SECRETARY: J. GREENHALGH

to whom all communications should be addressed

TELEPHONE:

WELBECK 1745

TELEGRAM ADDRESS:

WORKINTEX, London, W.1

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2

You will know that I intended to write to the I.L.0. and various other bodies, soliciting their assistance to obtain a reduction of working hours for women and young persons in Hong Kong. Upon reflection however, I feel that we can keep the matter confined to the United Kingdom for the time being, in view of the wide-spread interest being shown by M.P's of all parties.

I have sent Mr. Foggon a copy of a confidential document which I have received from Hong Kong, and I have written to Mr. Rankin, M.P., explaining that it is not the textile workers that need protective legislation in Hong Kong, but the garment and other female workers. I also informed him of the two paragraphs in the confidential document which make it so obvious that the new legislation is being watered down to such a degree that it will be possible for employers to reduce their working hours by as little as 5 minutes per day and still comply with the legislation. This side-tracking of the spirit of what should be done, comes au no surprise to me, for I just have no confidence in anyone without labour/management experience.

Copies of all my letters are sent to Ernest Thornton, so far as Hong Kong is concerned, for he is one of the few persons upon whom I can rely to do everything he can to obtain more humane conditions in Hong Kong.

Just one additional point. I am not interested in what might be described as Government policy on this issue, and I realise that the problem is very difficult. If I could only obtain some assurance from you that the question is receiving your urgent attention with a view to reducing the hours of work for women and young persons in Hong Kong to the level obtaining in Asiatic countries generally, then I could be much more content than I am at the moment. If this request is asking too much of you, I can adjust my actions accordingly.

Yours sincerely,

General Secretary.