TNAG-0441-FCO40-506-Visits-of-leading-personalities-of-Hong-Kong-to-UK-1974 — Page 25

CONFIDENTIAL

LABOUR AFFAIRS IN HONG KONG: ILO CONVENTIONS

1.

There has been recent Parliamentary interest in labour

affairs in Hong Kong, particularly on the application to the

Colony of ILO Conventions.

Mr James Sillars MP, who in the past

has suggested that HMG should set up an enquiry into the

application of ILO Conventions in Hong Kong, raised the matter

in a Written Question as recently as 20 March, and again on

27 March when he asked a supplementary question about the

application of ILO Conventions to Hong Kong.

2. We have been taking the general line that the Minister has

been awaiting the report of the Overseas Labour Adviser,

Mr Foggon, who recently visited Hong Kong. If Sir Albert raises

the subject, it would be desirable to maintain this line, saying

we will of course be considering labour matters in the light of

the Overseas Labour Adviser's report.

CONFIDENTIAL