TNAG-0234-FCO40-270-Labour-disputes-and-trade-unions-in-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 59

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(D) MY ONLY WORTHWHILE COMMENTS ON THE REST OF THE ARTICLE ARE

THAT IT IS TENDENTIOUS IN PLACES AND THAT THERE HAS NOT BEEN

ANY RECENT EVIDENCE THAT NON-COMMUNIST UNIONS WERE ADOPTING THE

'CAMPING OUT' TACTICS REFERRED TO.*

*

3. YOUR PARAGRAPH 2(A). THE TEXT OF THE BILL WITH AN EXPLANATORY

MEMORANDUM WAS SENT TO MEMBERS OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD ON

12TH AUGUST. IN ORDER TO GIVE THEM, ESPECIALLY THE REPRESENTATIVES

OF THE TRADE UNIONS, ADEQUATE TIME TO STUDY THE TEXT, A MEETING OF

THE BOARD WAS DELAYED AND HAS NOW BEEN ARRANGED FOR 15TH OCTOBER.

4. YOUR PARAGRAPH 2(B). THE COMMISSIONER OF LABOUR SAID IN A

PRESS RELEASE ON 30TH SEPTEMBER THAT HE WOULD WELCOME COMMENTS ON

THE BILL AND THAT, IN THE LIGHT OF THESE, HE WOULD CONSIDER WHAT

CHANGES APPEARED TO BE NECESSARY BEFORE MAKING HIS RECOMMENDATIONS

ON THE FINAL VERSION. NEITHER HE NOR THE REGISTRAR OF TRADE

UNIONS HAS RECEIVED ANY SPECIFIC COMMENTS ON THE DRAFT BILL

FROM REGISTERED TRADE UNIONS. PANG CHUN-HOI, CHAIRMAN OF

THE RIGHT-WING COTTON INDUSTRY WORKERS GENERAL UNION

(MY TELEGRAM NO. 386 OF 16TH JUNE, 1970 REFERS) HAS HOWEVER

TOLD THE COMMISSIONER IN WRITING THAT HE CANNOT AGREE TO THE

AMENDMENTS IN THE DRAFT BILL AND THAT HE WILL STATE HIS REASONS

AT THE MEETING OF THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD. THE HONG KONG AND

KOWLOON TRADES UNION COUNCIL IS ALSO LIKELY TO OBJECT TO CERTAIN

PROVISIONS OF THE DRAFT BILL. ALTHOUGH THE T.U.C. IS REPORTED

TO HAVE PASSED A RESOLUTION ON THE SUBJECT, THE COMMISSIONER

HAS NOT YET RECEIVED THE TEXT. THE FORMER SECRETARY-GENERAL OF

THE T.U.C., FUNG HOI-CHIU, VOICED SUPPORT OF THE DRAFT BILL

BUT HE HAS NOW BEEN OUSTED BY PANG CHUN-HO1. THE DRAFT BILL HAS,

IT IS PRETTY CLEAR, BEEN EXPLOITED BY PANG AS PART OF A POWER

STRUGGLE TAKING PLACE WITHIN THE T.U.C.

CONFIDENTIAL

/5. COMMENTS

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