TNAG-0383-FCO40-429-Trade-unions-and-industrial-relations-in-Hong-Kong-1973 — Page 38

حمر

CONFIDENTIAL

機密

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XCC(73)50

It should be emphasised, however, that Convention 87 applies only to 'affiliations with international organisations'. It does not apply to affiliations with individual unions in other countries. Nor would it seem proper to hold that relations between Hong Kong and the United Kingdom unions were an internal matter. Circumstances are quite different in the two countries and, although most unions have basic aims in common, their interests, policies and politics must of necessity be governed to a large extent by the economy and conditions of their own country. There is a potential danger that outside unions may seek to influence economic and political activity in Hong Kong either directly or through Her Majesty's Government on the basis of affiliation with local unions. Outside unions may also seek to influence the activities of their Hong Kong Branch in the interest of their members in the United Kingdom. Such activity would most likely be to the detriment of Hong Kong.

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It is necessary therefore to distingusih between those affiliations which are potentially dangerous and those which are harmless or possibly even beneficial. No application has ever been refused and an examination of the comprehensive list at Annex A reveals several categories as follows:

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(a)

(b)

(c)

(d)

affiliations to reputable international organisations of workers or employers (Annex A: 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 16);

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affiliations to overseas organisations which are overtly not organisations of workers or employers (Annex A: 17);

affiliations to national trade unions overseas (Annex A: 2, 6, 15);

the establishment of local branches overtly subordinate, to parent unions overseas (Annex A: 5, 11).

In view of what has been said about the application of International Labour Organisation Convention 87 in paragraphs 6 and 7 above, it does not seem necessary or desirable to restrict further affiliations to international organisations. On the other hand, it is thought that the consent of the Governor in Council should continue to be required in each case since it is thereby possible to ensure that the international organisations concerned are bona fide and respectable organisations of workers or employers.

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