TNAG-0383-FCO40-429-Trade-unions-and-industrial-relations-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 31

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Mr Walton

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HONG KONG : LABOUR TROUBLES

1.

H.K K5/16.!

With reference to Hong Kong telegram No.740 of 9 July, I have been having a look at the reports of the Registrar of Trade Unions in order to form some estimate of what is the relative strength at the present time of the left-wing and right-wing trade union groups.

The situation must, I think, give

cause for concern in spite of the relatively low level of trade union membership in Hong Kong in percentage terms.

2. I have no breakdown as between the various groups for 1966 but in that year the total paid-up trade union membership was given as 131,306. In 1967, the left-wing unions suffered badly during the period of confrontation with most of their members in the public utilities being dismissed. However, they have obviously worked hard to retrieve the situation and the combined paid-up membership of FTU affiliated unions and of unions friendly towards the FTU is now 129,000, almost equal to the total paid-up trade union membership in Hong Kong in 1966. There has, moreover, been an increase of about 21,000 in paid- up trade union membership in the 12 months between December 1971 and December 1972; almost all of that new FTU recruits. During the whole of the period the TUC membership has remained relatively static. The table below sets out the position:-

Year ending 31 December

FTU affiliated unions

Unions friendly towards FTU

TUC affiliated unions

Unions friendly towards TUC

Unions classified as neutral or independent

Totals

1966

1971

1972

94,189 108,542

15,280 20,466

26,412 26,959

4,487 4,479

28,583 29,133

131,306 168,951 189,579

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DD 897152 154596 500M 2/72 GM 3643/2