TNAG-0129-FCO40-165-Labour-legislation-1970 — Page 25

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of employment.

But lest the whole idea be misunderstood

from the start, let me emphasise that labour courts are

part of a judicial, not an executive, machinery. They

deal with specific, identifiable claims by employees on employers and vice versa just as the ordinary courts do: the difference lying only in greater simplicity and speed of procedure. Specifically, it is not their function

to adjudicate generalised disputes over, for example, such matters as requests for increased wages or improved

conditions of service. What they should do is enable

certain types of specific claim to be rapidly adjudicated

instead of having to be settled through the conciliation

machinery.

X

In April I paid particular attention to the progress we wish to make this year in moving towards an organised and wholly Government-sponsored system of public assistance. Since I last spoke, a request has been made to Her Majesty's Government in London for expert advice on the types of procedures which can best be devised for Hong Kong. We

now have good reason to believe that such advice will be forthcoming. In the meantime a careful study has been made of possible avenues for development and broad lines of policy are being formulated.

Again we are making more

progress than may be apparent and I am anxious to be able

to present concrete proposals to honourable members here before too long.

Last April, I said I thought it desirable to make

progress in introducing a few less controversial but still important changes in the form of the Urban Council.

/Many.....