CONFIDENTIAL
NOTE OF A MEETING WITH UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE AND LEGISLATIVE COUNCILS (UMELCO)
ON THURSDAY, 5 JUNE, 1969.
Sir Albert Rodrigues raised the question of legislation in respect of night work for women. He suggested that the Commissioner of Labour should be free to exercise his discretion without reference to Whitehall. 2. Lord Shepherd said that he recognised that, in a changing world, it was necessary for Hong Kong to be flexible in approaching its problems. Personally he saw no objection in principle to what had been proposed provided the night work was voluntary and there were proper safeguards; but he thought there were others who might regard it as a retrogressive step. It was necessary, therefore, to look at the proposal in the light of labour legislation generally.
CONFIDEN HAL
What he would like to see to offset the proposed new legislation was a statutory rest day for men, so that they need not work 7 days a week if they did not wish to. This would not mean that they should not work 7 days a week if they so wished. The rest day might be expressed in terms o 4 days a month rather than one a week. In short, he would regard the proposal with sympathy provided there were proper safeguards and it could be dressed up not to tarnish the Hong Kong image which had, over the past years, been improving. He undertook to discuss the matter with the Governor and the Commissioner of Labour.
3.
Dr. Chung said that what was required was not further legislation but means of making the labour force aware of existing laws.
4. Mr. P.Y. Tang said that he supported Dr. Chung. On night work for women, he had two papers which he proposed to send to Lord Shepherd.
No comments yet.
Private notes are available after approval.