2600027 C.S. 20A
'CONF NTIL RESTRICTED,
LITY
SAVINGRAM
From the Governor, Hong Kong
88
Commonwealth Affairs.
the Secretary of State for the Cotomes
No.
1138
peated to:-
No.
Repeated to:-
19th June 1967...
My Reference... CR 169/65 II
23 JUN 1967
No.
Referenc
Hours of Work for Women and Young Persons
Your telegram No. 877.
飛
68
I attach a copy of the version in English of the memorandum
referred to the Labour Advisory Board on 11th May.
2.
There was general agreement within the Board that hours of work for women and young persons in industrial employment should be brought into line with international standards. There was, however, complete disagreement between representatives of workers and representatives of
employers as to how such a reduction should be brought about. The representatives of workers, while unanimously supporting in principle the proposed legislation, emphasised that any reduction of hours must not involve any loss of earnings and that permissible overtime must be generous. The representatives of employers unanimously opposed the proposed legislation, arguing that it was untimely in the current situation and that it would encourage pressure for the introduction of a universal 48 hour work throughout industry. They were, nevertheless, prepared to co-operate in drawing up a phased programme of all-round reduction of hours over an undefined period of time. This was also the view of the four major organisations represented on the original Working Party and these sought an interview on 10th May to put their views again to the Commissioner of Labour.
3.
Nevertheless, despite this conflicting advice, there appeared to be some common features. Considerable local public opinion now holds that it would be timely to extend legislation to improve labour conditions. Workers and employers are agreed that in respect of hours of work the goal is a 48 hour week. Workers are prepared to accept generous provision for overtime to facilitate a downward adjustment of working hours. Employers areprepared to co-operate in the preparation of a scheme for the phased reduction in working hours throughout industry.
4.
In this situation I put certain proposals to Executive Council on 13th June. The first was a bill to amend section 7 of the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance (Cap. 59) so as to include provision for the Commissioner of Labour "to make special regulations controlling the employment of women and young persons in any prescribed class or description of industrial undertaking. # This was agreed and the bill has been published for introduction to the Legislative Council on 28th June.
/.....5. The
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