TNAG-0297-FCO40-333-Employment-of-women-at-night-in-industrial-undertakings-in-H-1971 — Page 18

HKK 5/23

CONFIDENTIAL

(14)

Enter for her haird

on actu

return pl.

to me

3 June 1971

1.

LAST

REF.

NEXT

REF.

(1)

I am writing in connection with our exchange of telegrans concerning Hong Kong Government proposals to modify the rules governing night work for women. We did our best to meet your deadline, but with a matter of "such delicacy" (in the sense that it could lead to questions in Parliament or adjournment debates) we have a duty to refer to Ministere. In the present instance they naturally also wished to fortify themselves with the expert advice of their Labour Adviser and he was abroad when your proposals were received. This was why we could not meet the deadline within the time you wanted.

2.

Turning to the substance of thego proposala, we have assumed that you will be continuing the arrangemant whereby industrial premises are inspected before a permit is issued for the employment of women at night. Furthermore, whilst a division of duties exists between Labour Inspectors and Factory inspectors, you may think it advisable to enquire into the extent to which Factory Inspectors should participate in subsequent night inspections of the factories concerned. As seen from here the Factory Inspectors have a special expertise in regard to the technical conditions of work (e.g. safety) on which the Labour Inspectorate is not primarily responsible.

3.

It would also be most helpful if we could be kept informed should any local criticism develop after the public announcement has been made. This is the sort of thing which MPs pick up and we might get supplementary questions for which we were unbriofed.

Sir Hugh Norman-Walker, KCMG,

Colonial Secretary,

HONG KONG,

(L Monson)

CONFIDENTIAL