L
Fédération Internationale des Travailleurs des Industries
·
du Textile et de l'Habillement
PRESIDENT: JOHN E, NEWTON
VICE-PRESIDENT:
K. BUSCHMANN
The Editor, 'Sunday Times'
200, Grays Inn Road,
London. W.C...
M.
Copy to 2 togg вору.
Internationale Textil- und Bekleidungsarbeite: -Vereinigung
Internationella Textil- och Beklädnadsarbetarefederationen
INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE AND
GARMENT WORKERS' FEDERATION
120 BAKER STREET, LONDON, W.I
GENERAL SECRETARY: J. GREENHALGH to whom all communications should be addressed
TELEPHONE:
WELBECK 1745
TELEGRAM ADDRESS ·
WORKINTEX, London, W.1
June 2nd 1967.
Sir,
FOR INFORMATION
May I qffer some comments upon your article headed 'After the riota more welfare for Hongkong', published in your issue of May 28th 1967.
Stephen Fay rightly states that I am appalled at the thought of a 10- hours warking day for women and young persons in the colony, and it is also correct to say that I am appalled at the thought of only six days hàlidays per year. This might be a little misleading, and so it is necessary for me to explain that I am only uppalled with some workers having six days holidays because they are required to work on the remaining 359 days each year.
Richard Hughes appears to contradict himself, and it would be very interesting if he would try to explain how he reconciles his statement that 'Subatantiai wage increases are not practicable inside the framework of the colony'a fragile economy and laisser-faire traditional with his concluding statement that 'With cash reserves of £80 million and plenty of assets for Government loans, Hongkong can well afford to accelerate the provision of subsidised schools....etc, etc.'
I am well-aware that the industrialists in Hongkong are apt to dismiøs any complaint about low wages and long working hours as the 'Lancashire lament', us now deal with the 'Hongkong lament', which is so aptly explained by Richard Hughes
80 let when he states 'These wages and conditions must, of course, be considered in terms of Asian living standards'.
#e
Hongkong is probably the richest and most prosperous colony in the world, and far from being a developing country, it is a highly industrialised colony. Yet, when it comes to a question of wages and working conditions, they insist that they must be compared with wages and working conditions in Asian countries. Very weli, will deal with the working hours of women and young persons in Asia, and we find, according to a reply given to Mr. Ernest Thornton M.P. in the House of Commons as recently as 31st May 1967, that the legally permitted maximum working hours for women and young persons are less than those permitted in Hongkong in the following countries:- Afghanistan Burma; Ceylon; India; Japan; Malaysia; Pakistan; Phillippites; Singapore and Thailand.
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