TNAG-0454-FCO40-519-Application-of-international-labour-conventions-to-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 93

file A

Mr Crowson

Miss Swan

Reference.....

HONG KONG AND ILO CONVENTION, NO 14

A

1.

B

RECEIVED IN

REGISTRY No. 51

17 JAN 1974

HKK 5/6

Reference paragraph 7 of Miss Swan's minute of 7 October.

2.

Although, as Mr Hurst has pointed out, in his minute of 11 December, we need to be careful about adverse publicity, I would have thought we need not worry too much about attracting unwelcome attention to Hong Kong over the number of rest days. The discrepancy between 48 rest days per annum, as against the 52 rest days per annum required by Convention 14, is not that large. The Hong Kong Government is much more vulnerable to criticism on other labour matters, ie child labour, overtime hours.

3. I agree, however, that there is some risk of embarrassment if, should the Convention eventually be applied to Hong Kong, they then do not adhere in practice to the requirements of the Convention.

4.

Therefore, I think if we are to make any progress at all on this particular Convention, we must ask Hong Kong for a "trial" report. Mr Hurst, also thinks that this should be our first step (paragraph 3 of his minute of 11 December).

11.1.74

A L Wotton

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department

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