accepted by the Hong Kong business man to move into an industry showing the highest growth and profit rate. For example, at the present time the industry with the highest growth rate in Hong Kong is that of wig making. It is a fallacy often propagated by Government circles and manufacturers that Hong Kong workers are more interested in the take-home pay than in working hours and working conditions. Our experience was that the workers in Hong Kong have the same aspirations for stabilised working hours and reasonable working conditions that is found in other countries in the world.
With regard to the movement of industries we find that between March 1964 and March 1969 there has been an increase of nearly 38,000 people employed in the textile industry, 34,000 in the footwear and other wearing apparel and made-up textile goods, an increase of 28,000 in electronics, an increase of nearly 20,000 in plastic toys and as said earlier, a marked increase in wig making and other light industries requiring low capital investment and high labour content.
Wage Structure
There is no legal minimum wage in Hong Kong. The wage level obtained in various industries is the result of supply and demand of labour. Wages are usually calculated on hourly, daily or monthly piece rates. Monthly rated industrial workers are usually employed in a supervisory capacity and where time rates are accepted or monthly or weekly salaries, it is usual for the men to be paid slightly higher than the women but no difference is made where the operative is working on a piece rate incentive scheme.
Many workers receive additional benefits such as free medical treatment, subsidised meals, attendance bonus, subsidised transport and in some industries, a lunar new year bonus is payable which is usually equivalent to one month's extra pay, but the amount paid is on time values. The range of daily wages in manufacturing industries in March 1969 was as follows:
Skilled Workers Semi Skilled Workers Unskilled Workers
11.30- 31.00 Hong Kong dollars
6.50 - 24.00 Hong Kong dollars 5.90 15.30 Hong Kong dollars
In Appendix C we have shown the daily wage rates in selected manufacturing industries as at March 1969.
To show the movement during the past 11 years in daily wage rates, both excluding and including fringe benefits, for the workpeople in the manufacturing industries, we have included this information in Appendix D.
During the 11 year period from 1968 - 1969, the cost of living, based on the General Consumer Price Index, has risen about 33% whereas the average daily wage of industrial workers has increased by 144%, showing an annual increase of 5.7% in real wages.
To try and place the position in Hong Kong in respect of wages in a reasonably true perspective we have shown in Appendix E the average daily wages of various Far Eastern countries. We have included a footnote showing the sources of the information and other explanatory data.
The Factories Industrial Undertakings and Regulations Act 1967
The Factories Industrial Undertakings and Regulations Act 1967 became effective on the 1st December, 1967, and introduced a phased programme for the annual reduction in the maximum standard working week of women and
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