CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
то
HONG KONG
TELNO. 1560
31 OCTOBER 1968
(HKK 5/3)
CONFIDENTIAL.
TOP CCRY
FOLLOWING PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION HAS BEEN ASKED BY JAMES RANKIN. GINS QUOTE TO ASK THE SECRETARY OF STATE, IF, IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT FACTORY WORKERS IN HONG KONG EARN £4.13.0. PER WEEK
OF 48 HOURS, WHAT CONSULTATIONS HE PLANS TO HAVE WITH THE GOVERNOR IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THESE LOW STANDARDS OF PAYMENT?. UNQUOTE ENDS.
PROPOSE TO RECOMMEND REPLY AS FOLLOWS. BEGINS QUOTE NONE SIR:
I DO NOT KNOW THE SOURCE OF MY HONOURABLE FRIEND'S INFORMATIQU BUT £4.13.3 IS ABOUT WHAT THE AVERAGE UNSKILLED INDUSTRIAL WORKER WOULD EARN FOR A 48 HOUR WEEK. MY HONOURABLE FRIEND CALLS THESE LOW STANDARDS, BUT IN FACT THEY ARE AMONG THE HIGHEST IN ASIA, AND ARE IMPROVING ALL THE TIME AS A COMPARISON BETWEEN THE WAGE AND COST OF LIVING INDICES SHOWS. UNQUOTE ENDS
GRATEFUL FOR YOUR COMMENTS AND/OR ADDITIONAL MATERIAL BY 1330 AM B.S.T. TO-MORROW, 1 NOVEMBER.
STEWART
FILES
HONG KONG DEPT. FAR EASTERN DEPT.
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CONFIDENTIAL
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