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W(B)L 51-7406
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such conditions as he may specify, may grant exemptions to any industrial undertaking. A few exemptions have been granted in the past, but only to women working as supervisors (less than 0.18% of the total work force of 239,462 women being involved). Although strictly speaking these powers can be exercised without reference to us, it has been the practice not to use them except after consulta- tion and agreement with us.
The
4. During his visit to Hong Kong in June Lord Shepherd held discussions with unofficial members of Executive and Legislative Councils (UMELCO) at which this subject was raised.
A record of the discussion is attached.
suggestion was made that the Commissioner of ·
Labour should be free to use his discretionary
powers on a wider basis and without reference
to us;
Lord Shepherd replied that he
personally saw no objection in principle provided that the nightwork was voluntary and
He thought there were proper safeguards.
He would
however that others might regard it as a retrogressive step and that it was therefore necessary to look at the proposal in the light of labour legislation generally. like to see the use by the Commissioner of Labour of these powers of exemption offset by the introduction of four statutory rest
days a month for men.
5.
This specific condition is well on the way to fulfilment. Legislation has been drafted which will not only permit male adults in industry to take four rest days in the month if they wish but will extend the same benefit to all those in continuous employment who come within the scope of the Employment Ordinance. The measure is expected to come forward in the present session of Legislative Council and to be enacted before the end of
the year.
In Saving Despatch No.1142 it is implied that the Minister's agreement was dependent upon progress on three other aspects of labour legislation. The record of his discussions does not, however, bear this out. Nevertheless, it is reported that in the case of one of these items
/legislation
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Private notes are available after approval.