TNAG-0530-FCO40-625-Trade-union-relations-in-Hong-Kong-industry-1975 — Page 149

Ĉ.S. 41A

2600077

10,000-6/70-B74525

CONFIDENTIAL

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COLONIAL SECRETARIAT

LOWER ALBERT ROAD

HONG KONG

REF. CR 3/3051/73

BY BAG

(36) 4KKS

25/16

Dear

Laurence,

1973 membership.

RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No. 51

8 APR 1975

HKK 5/28

1st April 1975

David Lai, in his letter to Andrew Stuart of 4th December 1973, gave a general picture of the labour scene with particular reference to industrial relations and union

It would seem opportune now to give you a further report on the position since rather more than a year has passed, and the Executive Council has recently agreed that the Labour Relations Bill should now go to Legislative Council. This Bill remains, in its essentials, as Foggon saw it last year and includes provision for the "cooling-off" order as orginally envisaged.

In general terms the situation remains very much as previously reported, but against a background of considerably reduced employment in the industrial sector, and of a marked increase in under-employment (though this latter is particularly difficult to quantify). These changed economic circumstances have led to a further reduction in mandays lost resulting from labour disputes.

The figures for both strikes and man-days lost show a marked decrease in 1974 over 1973; the updated figures are as follows:-

Man Days Lost

HKK 5/16

1973.

36

2

Year

Major Disputes

Minor Wage

Strikes

Claims

1966/67

40

2,588

17

28,635

1967/68

68

3,093

8

5,231

1968/69

78

3,271

28

13,141

1969/70

127

3,372

32

37,141

1970/71

140

4,195

49

53,733

1971/72

130

4,694

40

21,204

1972/73

113

4,435

43

43,350

1973/74

87

4,853

40

49,311

1974/75

77

4,280

13

9,909

(9 months ending

31.12.74)

P.L.O'Keeffe, Esq. C.V.C.,

Hong Kong & Indian Ocean Department,

Foreign & Commonwealth Office,

London S..1,

ENGLAND

CONFIDENTIAL