TNAG-0089-FCO40-125-Social-welfare-working-conditions-in-Hong-Kong-1968 — Page 67

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

the final paragraph of a report which I prepared on a visit to the colony during the early part of last year which reads:-

"Hong Kong, being on the borders of Red China, is in the rather unique

position of being geographically placed to enable the Chinese to evaluate the difference between the political systems of the East and West. This proximity should be a challenge to the Government of Hong Kong to prove that a free society is far more advantageous than Communism. At the moment however, I have some misgivings, for unless the living standards of the Hong Kong peoples can be greatly improved, there will be every inducement for them to retain their belief in communism".

This was written on March 28th 1966, and events have proved the correctness of the statement.

Upon reflection, I see no hope for any large scale improvement, in spite of the fact that Hong Kong is a highly industrialised colony, unless and until the present administration change their thinking. I was for instance, staggered to hear Mr. Wakefield, who was then the Commissioner of Labour, when question about textile workers actually working on 359 days each year, state that he saw no reason why they should not work if they wished to do so. Even Mr. Hetherington, the present Commissioner of Labour allowed the East Asia Textiles Ltd. to break an undertaking given to him personally, on the question of making a decision in connection with the recent strike at this mill.

Violations of existing labour legislation are profitable to the employers, and se the law itself is in disrepute. I have repeated requested that I should be given an assurance that the Socialist Government in the United Kingdom will insist that the hours of work for women and young persons in Hong Kong must be brought into line with those obtaining in other Asian countries so far without success. I have even written to the Prime Minister on this subject, and whilst I am still anxious to to avoid any additional embarrassment to the Government, my loyalty is being strained to the limit.

I am therefore making a last appeal to you for some definite assurance to be given in the very near future, failing which I shall be compelled to carry out my duties without any restraint through what can only be termed to be misguided loyalty to the Labour Government.

Yours sincerely,

Treenhalgh.

General Secretary