TNAG-0230-FCO40-266-Conditions-of-employment-of-labour-force-in-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 16

',

sydd the Editor

South China Plorang kst "11/3/To

Labour conditions in Hongkong criticised

Federation.

Sir, I was very interested The Labour Department how- helping hård. Neeiles to they seek our aesistance. In proved to be wrong in to read your editorial com- ever, concedes that one in add, these workers know the countries anentioned, asses pent. ments (S.C.M. Post Feb 26) four, or 3,600 out of Hong- that they can always rely whenever night work is re-

J. GrrysnaIGH, concerning the term 'sweat- kong's 14,400 industrial firms upon the International quested by employers, cer-

General Sec,etary, shops' being applied to Hong- are guilty of hiring child Textile and Garment Wothers tain procedures pre adopted, Jaternasional Textile ard kong mills by the American labour"."

Federation, whenever their and in Britain these include

Garment Workers' textile and garment workers In my statement, I did not wages or working conditions the agreement of the women unions, together with your allege the employment of may be jeopardised by em- concerned at private meet- comments upon what i am children, but simply men- ployers of by adverse legis ings convened by the trade supposed to have said about tioned the press statement lation. 'inhumane' working cendi- as quoted above. Naturally. My tions in the colony.

the British press interpreted matter this as being 'inhumane' with result of Sn urgent appeal which I fully concur. The made by the werkers in surprising thing however, is Hongkong. hus proving their that I did not allege that reliance upon our aid when child labour was employed ever necessary,

unions,

of the

intervention in this It must also be rome 4- War in fact, 35 a bered, that there is a high When judged by American

level of education in there standards, the wages in the

countiles, and also that the textile and garment mills in

women concerned know Hongkong will certainly seem

that they can refuse to work to warrant the term 'wrated

during the night without any labour' particularly In view in textile mills, and in- You rightly state tha: I am harassment or victimisation. of the prosperity

have No of Hong- dced, 1

evidence

critical of Hongkong wage What is even more important, kong economically. It is in that any children are #0 levels, and I can emphasise In Britain, the United State* fact, the economic prosperity employed.

that I get no plaure in and Canada, we have of Hongkong that con emins The article continued agreeing with the Commis. effective Factory Inspree the existing living standards "Many of the lawbreakers sioner of Labour that wages torate which deal promptly of her peoples.

are small factores in con- In the clony have increased with any • „trogressiva é So far as I am pers mally gested arcas

commonly by 350 per cent over the past P'yer. It might wo L concerned, I recently tied to refrd to as backyard in- 10 years. Everyone in Hong- added that the penalties impe Assist the Hongkong rade dustries. Mere; in distress- kong knows the present level pused, un violators unions in their efforts to ing conditions, 12 and 13- of wages, to what must they labour legislation are large prevent night work for year children work up to 14 have been in 1900? The use enough to act as an effec women, and in a state.nent hours a day." This quote of percentages no longer tive deterrent. I de not which I made to the British was also given to the Bri- fools anyone.

know of any instance when * press, I quoted from certain tish press, but its source is So far as night work for night shift for women has newspaper articles from Hongkong and not anywhere "women being allowed in Bri- been introduced anywhere, Hongkong (not the South else.

tain, the United States and except Hongkong, against the China Morning Post) and Fortunately, notwithstand- Canada is concerned, this express wishes of the trade even used the actual words, ing the abuse that has been surely cannot justify the im- unions.

d es to avoid misunder- heaped on my head by cer- position of night work in standing. On the subject of tain interests in Hongkong, Hongkong, for everyone must child labour I used the pre- I am delighted to know that realise that the trade unions fx "it is reported in .

the textile and garment in the colony are far too that 'no-one knows the exact workers have sufficient con- weak to offer any great re- number of children employed fidence in me to appreciate sistance to either the Ad- in factories although there that I have no other motive ministration 'bave been numerous guessed, than that of giving them a trialists. This is exactly why

May I in conclusion, make one further comment? ro-called trial period for the night work for women, being of 18 months duration, is in my opinion, just suficiest to the Indus- guarantee that it will be per- manent. I hope that I can be