TNAG-0231-FCO40-267-Conditions-of-employment-of-labour-force-in-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 97

CONFIDENTIAL

67

Hong Kong Department

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HKK 5/3

6 May, 1970

22 (29)

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I am very sorry that you have had to wait so long for an account of the meeting Lord Shepherd had with Trade Union officials six weeks ago (our telegram 137 and your reply No. 164). The arrangements for the Secretary of State's visit followed by difficulties on the textiles front have kept me pretty busy in recent weeks.

The meeting on 17 March was arranged at the request of Mr. Gibson, General Secretary of the National Union of Hosiery and Knitwear Workers, who wrote to Lord Shepherd on 28 January saying inter alia that

"My General President, Mr. Pendergast, and I would like to

have the opportunity of meeting yourself and your advisers, with our International Secretary, Mr. Jack Greenhalgh, to discuss our experiences in the Far East with particular reference to the industrial position in Hong Kong".

Subsequently Mr. Gibson wrote again protesting against the decision to permit women to work at night. Lord Shepherd received similar letters from Mr. Greenhalgh (International Textile and Garment Workers' Federation), Mr. MacGougan (National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers) and Mr. Milhench (United Textile Factory Workers' Association); and in the event representatives of four trade unions were received by Lord Shepherd on 17 March.

on),

The trade union officials made three main points :-

(a) They considered that much more could be done to improve

labour conditions generally. In particular, they feared that it would prove impossible to control the employment of women at night.

(b) They were concerned about the problem of low cost imports

generally.

(c) They suggested that the Hong Kong Government could do more

to encourage the growth of non-communist trade unions.

Lord Shepherd began his reply by 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. He went on to say that he would be ready to consider any proposals 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. He then got down to details.

Sir Hugh Norman-Walker, KCMG., OBE.

/After

CONFIDENTIAL