TNAG-0230-FCO40-266-Conditions-of-employment-of-labour-force-in-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 178

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CONFIDENTIAL.

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Mr. H.H. Stewart.

Hong Kong Department.

I am concerned about the steady upward trend in the amount of overtime being worked by women and young persons in Hong Kong as indicated by the figures set out in the attached table. An increase in overtime was an expected result of the phased ✔reduction of working hours of women and young

persons but the uncheckeď upward rise calls for comment. In the last complete half year before the first reduction in hours (from 1 December 1967) 31,492 women and young persons worked up to 90 hours overtime. In that half-year not a single woman or young person was employed on overtime above the range of hours 61-90. In the half year ended March 1969 there were no less than 4,419 cases in the 61-90 range (against 469); 4,419 in the 91-120 hours range; and 3,090 in the 121-201+ range In less than two years the reported number employed on overtime has increased from 31,492 persons to 58,212, accompanied by a sharp shift upwards in the number of hours overtime worked.

2. At the time that the regulations reducing the hours of work were introduced, it was decided to relax the limitation of 100 hours overtime per annum by stages to a maximum of 300 hours per annum in December 1971 (it is at present 240 hours from 1 December 1969) but it was agreed that thereafter the overtime limit should be reduced as soon as possible.

3.

In my report of my visit to Hong Kog in October 1967 (copy attached see paras. 5 - 12), I recommended that the incidence of overtime should be analysed at the end of each twelve-month period · and a report rendered to the (then) Commonwealth Office. This does not seem to have been done.

4. I also said that if an opportunity should occur of reviewing overtime maxima in advance of December - 1971, this should be taken. At that time, it was

expected by the Commissioner of Labour that a large majority of employees would not use the full permitted hours of overtime.

5. I recommend that we draw the attention of the Hong Kong Government to the continued upward trend of overtime worked by women and young persons as indicated above; express concern at the increase in the numbers apparently working regular overtime; remind them of the recommendations in my report, and ask for a review of the position.

(GFoggon)

19 January 1970.

Covering

CONFIDENTIAL.