TNAG-0234-FCO40-270-Labour-disputes-and-trade-unions-in-Hong-Kong-1970 — Page 69

CYPHER/CAT A

ROUTINE HONG KONG

TELEGRAM NO 592

CONFIDENTIAL

#+

TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

28 JULY 1970.

26

TOP COP

CONFIDENTIAL

LAST

REF.

YOUR TELNO 479.

FOR FOGGON FROM HETHERINGTON.

THERE ARE SUCH EXAMPLES ALTHOUGH THE UNION WITH WHICH THE

MANAGEMENT DISCUSSES WAGES MAY NOT BE THE LARGEST OR MOST

REPRESENTATIVE OF THOSE TO WHICH EMPLOYEES OF A PARTICULAR

ORGANISATION BELONG. THE WORKING ARRANGEMENTS MENTIONED INCLUDE

SUCH DISCUSSIONS. DETAILS OF WAGE NEGOTIATIONS ARE SUMMARIZED

IN APPENDIX 4 OF THE ANNUAL DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS OF THE LABOUR

DEPARTMENT IN 1963-65 AND IN APPENDIX 5 OF THE REPORTS IN 1965-69.

IN THE EARLY YEARS AFTER THE LIBERATION OF HONG KONG IN 1945

SOME COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS WERE NEGOTIATED WITH ORGANIZATIONS

SOME OF WHICH WERE THE INDIRECT PREDECESSORS OF PRESENT COMMUNIST

UNIONS. THE TRADE UNION AND TRADE DISPUTES ORDINANCE WAS NOT

ENACTED UNTIL 1948. THERE IS SOME DOUBT IF SURVIVING CLAUSES

OF THESE AGREEMENTS ARE STILL REGARDED AS VALID. THE ONLY

COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN NEGOTIATED BETWEEN

THE MANAGEMENT OF A PUBLIC UTILITY AND A COMMUNIST UNION IN

MORE RECENT YEARS WAS IN 1960 AND INVOLVED THE GAS COMPANY.

SEE PAGES 34 AND 35 OF THE AMMUAL DEPARTMENTAL REPORT OF 1962-61.

IMPROVED CONDITIONS OF SERVICE IN THIS COMPANY WERE INTRODUCED

UNILATERALLY BY THE MANAGEMENT IN THE SUMMER OF 1969 AND

SUPERSEDED THE 1960 AGREEMENT.

SIR D.TRENCH

FILES

H.K.D.

A. & T.D.

O.L.A.

SIR L. MONSON

CONFIDENTIAL

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No.51 29 JUL 1970

HKK