TNAG-0518-FCO40-613-Constitutional-development-in-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 20

The Hong Kong "Low Profile Academic Study" of Trade Unions and Industrial Relations

Note on the meeting in Lord Goronwy-Roberts' Office - 2 December 1975

1.

The Governor would welcome an academic study done in collaboration with one of the local universities. He suggests Dr McCarthy might write to the Vice-Chancellor of Hong Kong University to ask for someone, preferably a Cantonese speaker, to be attached to the researcher. The Hong Kong Government would offer the customary facilities which it gives to any reputable research study. The Labour Department might also be able to help. The Governor hoped that the report would be authoritative and would be published in due course so that it could be widely read. He emphasised the need to avoid using the word "enquiry": what was required was an academic survey a practical, in depth, research project or study which would not be completed "too quickly". Publicity should be avoided and he hoped there would be no need for a public announcement. Other "academic studies" were proceeding in other fields without the benefit of announcements. Pending completion of the report he hoped that criticism of Hong Kong would be stilled.

2.

Lord Goronwy-Roberts thought we should need to decide

An Educational sponsorship, funding and terms of reference. Trust, such as the Nuffield Foundation, might be interested. We should have to provide the finance and the terms of reference would need particular care. The finished report should come to the Secretary of State, and copies would be sent to the Governor, the NEC and the TUC. We should try to make as much use of the report as possible. The report should be presented as a new study which will report on "what is actually there". If few positive measures can be put forward for changing the present excessive fragmentation and weaknesses of the trade union movement, the report will have to say just that.

If the UK TUC should insist on TUC participation, Lord Goronwy-Roberts would not necessarily view that with apprehension, provided the right man was chosen. Critics of But the study the present system should see for themselves. would lose its value and should not be undertaken if the UK TUC said in advance that the absence of trade union participa- tion would make the report valueless. The Secretary of State would need to be kept informed of any such attitude on the part of the TUC. The OLCC meeting at the end of January might be an opportunity for securing consideration of the project in more detail.