TNAG-0233-FCO40-269-Legislation-relating-to-registration-of-trade-unions-in-Hong-1970 — Page 77

CR 4/3051/53

GOVERNMENT HOUSE

IV

HONG KONG

My dear herlic,

87

Ree'd 251/1/70

9th November 1970

During your recent visit the

Parliamentary Under-Secretary asked for a brief on the Trade Union Registration (Amendment) Bill.

You will be interested in the attached copy of the transcript of the Governor's interview with the press at Kaitak prior to his departure.

I am satisfied that the draft bill has now been seen by all who are likely to be interested, and believe that a reasonably reliable consensus of opinion has now been obtained. Comment has been centred on only a few aspects of the draft bill, and the majority of clauses have attracted no criticism.

We intend to take a revised draft of the bill to Executive Council as early as possible. A list of the detailed changes which have been made to the draft bill which was sent under cover of saving despatch No. 1137 of 10th October, 1969, is enclosed. The main changes are as follows:-

for

(a) The employees' representatives on the Labour

Advisory Board have argued that the trade union movement is best served by permanent organizations, and that workers might be disinclined to join trade unions if they are easily able to organize temporary trade unions to meet special circumstances as they arise. It has not been the practice in Hong

"

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