TNAG-0090-FCO40-126-Social-welfare-working-conditions-in-Hong-Kong-1968 — Page 77

003230

C.F. 323

CONFIDENTIAL

Visit to long Kon of the ister of State, Commonwealth Office.

i a culo of Labour Inters Strday, 14th October 1967

∙134

fr:

.E. the Governor

Acting Colonial Secretary"

Financial S-cretary

Comissioner of Labour

Dopy Colonial Secretary

2:36 (80)

Yours of work for Women & Young Persons

Minister of State

Aust. Under Secretary of State

Priv Le Secretary

Labour Adviser

The proposals for a phased reduction to 43 hours over a five-year period with corresponding adjustments in overtime were disoussed at length.

2.

The Minister informed the Governor that, while he welcomed the agreement to a phased reduction and accepted the need to permit upward rovision of permitted overtime to a maximum of 300 hours at the end of the period, phasing over 5 years was not acceptable. He would expect the Government to seek the acceptance of this reduction over 4 years in 5 stages, with corresponding adjustments in permitted overtime. The overtime limit should be reduced as soon as possible thereafter, and should be reviewed at the end of the period.

3.

It was agreed that the Commissioner of Labour should seek the acceptance of this proposal by the employers' organisations as quickly as possible with a view to an agreed statement being drafted (with supplementary information) for dosprich to London before the Tinister's departure.

4.

In regard to the mechanics of implementing this, the overnor said it would require a Resolution to be put to the Legislature and that, although it was unlikely, it might eventuate that the only way to get the resolution through would be by use of an offical majority.

Dit le islation

5.

The Commissioner of Labour explained the purposes and the present state of play of the following proposed legislation:

Prondy at 146/E2

(a)

Employment Bill

(3)

(b)

Workmen's Compensation (Amdt) 71

(0) ت

Illegal Strikes & Lockouts (Amdt) Fill

((a)

Apprenticeship Bill

(e)

(f)

Legislation on severance pay on redundancy

Legislation on rost days in shops and services and in factories and industrial undertakings

(8)

Legislation on joint consultation.

6.

The inister urged the desirability of giving publicity to some of these proposals in order to made it clear that the Government was concerned and was taking action.

CONFIDENTIAL