TNAG-0383-FCO40-429-Trade-unions-and-industrial-relations-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 33

Mr Crows on

оподава

23

Reference..

Yes, they surely

must be aware Tours

AFFILIATION OF TRADE UNIONS TO ORGANISATIONS OUTSIDE HONG KONG

1.

I agree with Mr Foggon that there is a danger of an awkward situation arising if ASTMS (Mr Clive Jenkins' union) or any other British trade union should ever attempt to establish a branch in Hong Kong. There seems little doubt that the Hong Kong Government would now refuse such an application for affiliation (last sentence of paragraph 12 of ExCo memorandum) However, Hong Kong are presumably aware of the possible repercussions if they turn down such an application. I do not therefore think there is much point in our writing to Hong Kong about this particular clause, unless of course it is considered that this issue is of sufficient importance to warrant our intervention. A lot will obviously hinge on how strictly paragraph_e(i) is interpreted by the Hong Kong Government, ie what they consider to be a "subordinate position"

2.

•

21

Although it is obviously necessary for the Hong Kong Government to guard against untoward outside interference with trade unions in Hong Kong, I find their almost retrogressive attitude towards progress on trade unions, or for that matter progress in all labour affairs, hard to understand. Why should they be concerned with introducing legislation of this kind at the present time when, as they readily admit, trade unions are weak and there are only about 10% of the workers who are fully paid-up members of trade unions. Perhaps what is worrying them is the increasing number of wage claims, ie teachers, mid- wives, and this has prompted them to tighten up on legislation governing trade union affairs.

3. I think you must be right in your interpretation of paragraph e(ii). Presumably what they are trying to say is that any expatriate members of a Hong Kong trade union must be based in the same overseas country as the union to which the Hong Kong branch is affiliated.

4 July 1973

Achatten

A L Wotton

(17293) 897465 400m 1/73 G.W.B.Ltd. Gp.863