TNAG-0231-FCO40-267-Conditions-of-employment-of-labour-force-in-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 108

p.?.

regarded by the trade union officials as

a convenient occasion to pursue particular

problems which it had become apparent were

exercising them. For this reason the Minister

felt it desirable to include Mr. Milhench

and Mr. Matthews.

3. The general purport of the thinking

of the trade union officials was that, con-

cerned though they were by the competitive

power of other low-cost producers, their

paramount interest and concern lay with

the situation in Hong Kong, The difficulties

were the greater because "free" trade unions

received insufficient support from the Government

This was not only a matter of regret for

economic and social reasons, but also for

political reasons, and they hoped more might

be done by Government to promote sound trade

union development.

5.

points

In reply to thes Lord Shepherd told

Mr. Gibson and his colleagues that he fully

appreciated the weight of their arguments,

but it was necessary to move with discretion.

In the circumstances the initiative would

have to come from the trade unions and not

from the Government in Hong Kong or in London,

and if any initiative did come from them,

he would be ready to consider any proposal

put to him for help to non-communist trade

unions.

6.

In this connection we have noted with

ar bara 17.07 interest the conclusion recorded/the

ecorded

Special Branch paper dated 27 February

anelysing recruitment campaigns by communist

Per. I Transth

term bagels

NOTHING TO BE WRITTEN IN THIS MARGIN