TNAG-0383-FCO40-429-Trade-unions-and-industrial-relations-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 34

Covering CONFIDENTIAL

Reference

227

The Wotton first ill

Mr Crowson HK/IOD K 247

1. I called for this file to refresh my memory

G

on the letter sent by Mr Royle to Mr Tilney and have also seen page 21 which has just arrived.

>

2. For the most part I am in agreement with the decisions of Executive Council but I can see embarrass- ment for us in paragraph (e) of the conclusions, which would debar a British union, such as Mr Jenkins' from drumming up membership in Hong Kong and establish- ing a local branch, registered under the Hong Kong legislation but nevertheless a branch of the UK-based union.

3.

If all

I find paragraph (e)(ii) incomprehensible. members of the Hong Kong union "are based in the same overseas country as the overseas union" there would surely be no-one left in Hong Kong to register a union!

29 June 1973

G Foggon

Covering CONFIDENTIAL

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