TNAG-0230-FCO40-266-Conditions-of-employment-of-labour-force-in-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 143

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non-industrial sectors who will have to depart substantially from customary practice. It is hoped that Government will show sympathetic attitude

towards these employers during the initial stage mens when this Ordinance

comes into force.

This Bill, in essence, provides, from the view of an employer, four com- pulsory rest days a month to his employees and, from the angle of an employee, an option of having four rest days a month. It, therefore, gives more leisure to those people who want it without hindering others who prefer to work harder and earn more income. During the past two years we have made significant progress in labour legislation. We have the phased programme on progressive reduction of working hours, the maternity protection ordinance, the improved workmen's compensation ordinance, the employment ordinance and now the rest days ordinance. These new labour ordinances together with the previous ones such as the holidays with pay and sickness allowance ordinance will no doubt bring our labour legislation reasonably up to international standards.

Whilst employers have been most co-operative in helping Government to improve its labour legislation for the benefit of labour, Government has been most reluctant to look realistically at one problem in industry. I refér,,Sir, to the problem of night work for women. This particular; issue has been mentioned many times both in and outside this Council. To my knowledge, a very large and progressive electronic undertaking has early last year applied for permission to operate a night shift with women. The wage level, fringe benefits and working conditions of this particular factory are very favourable

I by world standards, but so far no reply is received from Government. believe my honourable Friend, the Commissioner of Labour, already has power to grant women working on hight shift but is very reluctant to exercise it due to certain restrictions imposed by White Hall in London. Therefore, when it comes to internal affairs, we are, as my honourable Colleague Mr. Kan often said, remotely controlled by London and cannot decide for our own selves.

When, however, it comes to trade, Hong Kong is to be considered as a complete outsider. I can quote many good cases in point but I shall today confine myself to the most recent one involving the Industrial Development (Ships) Bill which was passed in the House of Commons last month. The enactment of this Bill in the United Kingdom will mean a double-blow to our ship building and repairing industry. Firstly, British registered shipping companies will no longer enjoy the privilege of an investment grant from the U.K. Government when building or converting ships in Hong Kong. Secondly, British ship owners will have better financial incentive to have their ships built, converted or repaired even in an EFTA country than in Hong Kong.

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/ Cont'd.

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