CONFIDENTIAL
attitude of employers in Hong Kong, doubtless occasioned by the
proximity of mainland China, the Communist affiliations of many unions
and memories of the part played by those unions in the 1967
confrontation, is one of opposition to full recognition and
negotiating status for trade unions. The TUC's role, therefore, is
largely confined to representing workers' interests collectively on
the Labour Advisory Board and other consultative bodies and inter-
vening, where necessary, at the factory level in individual cases.
The left wing FTU suffers under the same handicaps but operates more
vigorously by providing a service to individual members through
social and educational work; organised parties; the provision of
clinics; and alertness to disputes in factories where they can move
in quickly and make an impression.
7. Other factors contributing to the continuing weakness of the
trade unions are the multiplicity of small employers and consequent
organisational difficulties: the political divisions leading to weak
organisation and scanty financial resources; and a shortage of
capable union organisers. In spite of the absence of collective
bargaining, wages have shown a consistent rise year by year in
real terms:
March 1964
100
11
1965
108
11
1966
113
11
1967
118
11
1968
117
11
1969
122
**
1970
132
11
1971
144
11
1972
154
CONFIDENTIAL
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