TNAG-0234-FCO40-270-Labour-disputes-and-trade-unions-in-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 23

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and independent segment, estimated to total 25,000 members,

workers' unions in Hong Kong are organised into two political

groups - the Federation of Free Trade Unions, which is communist

and Peking controlled, and the Trades Union Council which is

Kuomintang dominated. The estimated total membership of the

two groups is 75,000 in the communist unions and 25,000 in the

Kuomintang unions. The TUC is affiliated to the International

Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the two international

trade secretariats, the International Transport Workers

Federation and the International Tailoring and Garments Workers

Federation, have been active in Hong Kong.

Recognition of Unions

5. Neither the Hong Kong Government, nor any other employers,

can remedy the weaknesses of trade union membership or organisa-

tional structures: these are matters for the unions themselves.

New

In the Hong Kong situation there will be a growing possibility

that unions may seek recognition by strike action.

industrial relations legislation is under consideration which it

is hoped will provide improved procedures for the settlement of

such disputes.

The Recognition Issue in Hong Kong between the ASTMS and the HAECO

6. In the case of the Hong Kong branch of the ASTMS, the

management of HAECO, despite intervention by the Labour Relations

Service of the Hong Kong Labour Department, has refused to

concede the negotiating rights sought by the union, i.e. on wages,

terms of individual contracts and the difference between local

and expatriate terms of service: the employer has indicated

/however