TNAG-0096-FCO40-132-Hong-Kong-Trade-Unions-1968 — Page 22

legislation had been on the stocks for a considerable time, but as we

anticipated, this public announcement created a favourable impression in

Some

Hong Kong•h Thirty three items of legislation were announced by

Mr. Hetherington and details of these are given in the attached annexe

which is a copy of the Memorandum put to the Executive Council in

January, 1968. Details are also attached of the state of play at the

beginning of the year of the proposed legislation.

11. The Governor has commented that in fact there are only two items

of the programme (apart from legislation connected with fire workers)

which result from ideas arising during and after the events of last year,

and one partially so. These are:-

(i) Joint consultation

(ii) Compulsory conciliation

(iii) Illegal strikes.

in each case

12. At Mr. Foggon's suggestion, we have asked the Governor to arrange for

a draft of the proposed legislation to be sent to us as early as possible

for consideration, since on some questions, notably industrial relations,

the policy is still in a fluid state, e.g. illegal strikes and lock outs;

clarification is also required on other bills such as the Apprenticeship

Bill and that dealing with joint consultation.

Strenthening of the Hong Kong Department of Labour

13. There has been an imperative need for the Department to be

strengthened at the professional level if it is to carry out energetically

are how being placed and efficiently the responsibilities which the situation of last year has

La addation, the proposed new lequlation will place & heavy borden on't. imposed upon it. Last year it was the subject of much press criticism

in Hong Kong and in this country and its morale at times must have been

Recently however, with the recruitment, or imminent recruitment,

low.

of new staff, the situation has greatly improved.

14. The two senior labour officers, Messrs. Bennett and Price, whose

contracts were due to expire this year and about whose retention in Hong

Kong service there was considerable uncertainty, have now been offered

further contracts at the level of Assistant Labour Commissioners.

It is

not yet known whether they have accepted these offers but it seems likely

/that