CONFIDENTIAL
Mr. Greenhalgh spoke of the alarming arrogance of Hong Kong industrialists who felt they could dictate to the weak Labour Department. They had no respect for the Commissioner of Labour and forced decisions on the Government, such as the recent decision on night work for women. The conditions laid down for this were an insult to intelligence. The sixteen month trial period was just long enough to ensure permanency. Its introduction was without any
support except from industrialists. Organised labour and the Catholic Women's Guild were examples of opposition groups; "anyone of account was against it".
Mr. Gibson added that he and a party of colleagues had just been to Brussels and had been told by "EEC officials" that Hong Kong represented an important "obstacle" to British entry into the Community.
Lord Shepherd, after referring to the delicate situation arising from the attitude of the CPG towards Hong Kong and to the importance of avoiding any action which could provoke internal unrest or external threats, made the following points :
(a)
(b)
He would be ready to consider any proposal put to him by Mr. Gibson or his colleagues for covert help to non-
communist trade unions. But the initiative would have to
come from the trade unions, and not from the Government
in Hong Kong or London.
Although the Hong Kong Government had a number of new bills
in hand, he pinned his hopes more on the efficient admini-
stration of existing laws than on the introduction of new
measures. He added, however, that it would be much
better, in his view, if wages could be paid weekly rather
than monthly.
(c) We had to influence the Hong Kong Government by persuasion
because we had no power to dictate policy. We had been
consulted about the proposal to introduce night work for
women and had suggested ways of controlling such work.
Lord Shepherd then went through the conditions laid down
by the Hong Kong Government.
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