TNAG-0090-FCO40-126-Social-welfare-working-conditions-in-Hong-Kong-1968 — Page 94

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CONFID "TIAL

BRIFT 10. 8

126

VISIT OF NUUTSTER OF SHANE FOR COHORTAUCH AFTARRO

TO NOWY KOTI

OCTOBER 1967.

Labour Relations

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The Labour Advisor has sot out his suggestions on the mattora to bo raised in Hong Kong in the attached note and he will proparo additional briefs in Hong Kong.

2. Thore is much nood to show some solid progress on this front. If, from now on, confrontation dovolopo into a Communist campaign by non- violent methods to gain the support of "the nagooo", there is a dangor (alroady noted in Hong Kong) that issues of labour conditions and relations may be used to this end by tho Commuuiat unions. Equally important is tho nood to moot Parliamentary pressure which has boon ouoteinod, particularly on the issue of hours of work of women and young persons (tho Labour Advisor has a copy of Mr. Thornton's Question on this for Answer on 24th October, with a viow to the reply boing draftod in Hong Kong in the light of discussions thoro). There is finally the dosirability of improving Hong Kong's imago abroad as a user of low-cost if not "swoatod" labour, in the context of its trading relations.

3. Thoro have boon roports of a changod attitude among employers in Hong Kong (ono might doubt, not unreasonably, whothor it extends to tho Chihose Manufacturors Association). If thoro is, clearly the Hong Kong Govornmont should take oarly advantago of it. But who thor tho atmosphoro for pone advanco is botter or not, it seems essontial that the Government should take the initiativo (na wan suggostod recently, but apparently without rosult, in the case of hours of work of women and young porsons), 4. The departmont has the following commonts on the Labour Adviser's

noto:-

Donartment of Labouri While fully endorsing the need for strengthoning the dopartmont at professional level, wo considor that in tho forosooable futuro the Labour Dopartmont will nood oloso political direction and that for some time to come this will require the appointment of an Administrative Officer as Commissionor.

Industrial Relationai It is difficult to soo how thoro can do any improvomont. In tho past the left-wing unions, mainly political in their objectivos, havo rarely takon industrial action and have rofused any co-oporation with right-wing and indopondont unions.

CONFIDENTAL

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