TNAG-0089-FCO40-125-Social-welfare-working-conditions-in-Hong-Kong-1968 — Page 143

Simplex

CONFIDENTAL

OUTWARD TELEGRAM

FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE for the colonIES

S

TO HONG KONG (Sir R. Black)

SSB.117/51/01

Sent 16th August 1958. 09.15 hours.

PRIORITY

1

CONFIDENTIAL AND PERSONAL

No.719

Personal for Governor from Profumo.

2:5

with ste

Begins.

Conditions of Employment.

(24)

Secretary of State is away but I know that he

' would endorse line taken in our telegram No. 718′ and would

wish me to ask you to push this through as quickly as possible.

2.

I need not emphasise how difficult it would be for us conscientiously to defend a working week of 60 or more hours for women and young people as a fair and just reform unless we can say that this is only a first step

I well understand your towards better working conditions difficulties and realise reluctance you may encounter from the Employers Associations or the Labour Advisory Board. But I know you accept inescapable duty of Government to take this

lead.

3.

If the regulations could be made before the Commonwealth Economic Conference at Montreal next month. that might help in disarming criticism if the subject of "cheap" Asiatic exports to Commonwealth markets is raised. (South Africa raised it at the official meetings in June and it may not be possible to avoid it coming up again.)

(Cost of telegram £10 29.4d.)

Ends.

CONFIDENTIAL