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CONFIDENTIAL
OUTWARD TELEGRAM
FROM THE COMMONWEALTH OFFICE (The Secretary of State)
TO HONG KONG (Sir D. Trench)
Sent 23 May 1967. 21 302
IMMEDIATE
CONFIDENTIAL No.1017
GF/PKD
Following for Galsworthy from Hall.
Labour Situation.
Most grateful for your detailed account of present We have discussed with Minister of State and our views are as follows.
position.
2. It is in the highest degree important that we should achieve quickly a positive improvement in labour conditions notwithstanding that this alone is unlikely to make a significant impact on present situation. Public opinion here has been disturbed for a long time about labour conditions in Hong Kong and these conditions are inevitably linked whether rightly or wrongly with present situation. Initiatives open to us are limited but this is an area where we are all agreed progress has been too slow and where the power to act rests in our hands.
3.
In the light of past experience it would seem unwise to embark on phased programmes or reviews without an agreed timetable. Having decided what we consider ought to be done, should if necessary make it clear that we are prepared to carry improvements through to the extent of using the Official Majority.
We
42 Against this background we agree that hours of work for women and young persons must have priority and that approach on general lines described in your paragraphs 4 and 5 would be acceptable subject to the following modifications.
(a)
Immediate standard 48 hours week where this is general practice or where it is common but not universal practice, with provision for overtime up to a maximum of 12 hours per week for a period not exceeding six months, and thereafter a maximum of say six hours per week up to a total of 100 hours per annum in not more than 26 weeks in the year.
(b) Fhased programme for all other industries for
reduction of the standard working week and overtime to same level as at (a) should provide for an immediate reduction to 8 hour day but with phasing applied to extending periods during which extra overtime may be worked.
CONFIDENTIAL
150
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