TNAG-0233-FCO40-269-Legislation-relating-to-registration-of-trade-unions-in-Hong-1970 — Page 16

9

23 December, 1970

50

I fear that it has taken me rather longer than I expected when I wrote to you on 25 September, to let you have our views on Mr. England's memorandum on the proposed amendments to the Hong Kong Trade Union Registration Ordinance.

I should like to emphasise first that it is the practice of the Hong Kong Government to publish legislation of this type before it is introduced into Legislative Council. This gives all sections of opinion an opportunity to express views about the legislation, which can be taken into account before or during the passage of the legislation through the Legislature. This procedure has been followed in the present case. The Commissioner of Labour, for example, speaking in Hong Kong on 29 September, gave an assurance that in the light of observations and criticisms arising on the draft Bill he would be considering what changes were necessary before making recommendations about the final text.

As you might suppose, the draft Bill has also been examined in this Office and we have, of course, been in very close touch with the Government of Hong Kong about it.

There were four principal points of criticism of the draft Bill and I am glad to be able to tell you that three of the four areas of objection have been met by changes in the Bill. These are:

(a) Registration of temporary unions

These provisions are being deleted from the Bill.

(b) Debarment of persons from holding office in a trade union

for a period of five years when they have been convicted

of certain defined offences

In view of the criticism of obscurity levelled against the inclusion of "offences against public order", this has been deleted.

(c) Addition of "obstruction" to the picketing law

The clause has been dropped.

Frank Judd, Esq., MP,

House of Commons.