TNAG-0297-FCO40-333-Employment-of-women-at-night-in-industrial-undertakings-in-H-1971 — Page 11

CONFIDENT IAL

that the scheme be extended for a further trial period of

12 months from 1 July 1971 to 30 June 1972. In order to

give management adequate notice of the continuation of the

scheme it was stated in the Governor's saving despatch

that the Commissioner would announce its extension before

the end of May 1971, indicating that a further review would

be undertaken in the spring of 1972. The saving despatch

also included details of the various conditions to be

observed by those industrial undertakings wishing to take

advantage of the scheme. In some respects these conditions

varied from those laid down when the scheme was first

introduced. A comparison of the original and the modified

safeguards is at Annex A.

4. The saving despatch No. 361 reached Hong Kong Department

on 17 May. The Overseas Labour Adviser was abroad at the

time. He was expected back in London on 24 May and had

arranged to meet the Deputy Commissioner of Labour Hong Kong

(who was on leave in London) on 26 May. In these

circumstances I sent a telegram to Hong Kong requesting

that any announcement of the extension of the scheme be

delayed until after the proposals had been discussed by the

Overseas Labour Adviser and the Deputy Commissioner of

Labour at their meeting on 26 May.

5.

This produced Hong Kong telegram No. 349, a copy of

which is at Annex B.

2.

CONFIDENTIAL

16.