TNAG-0531-FCO40-626-Application-of-International-Labour-Convention-to-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 350

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HONG KONG:

1.

APPLICATION OF ILO CONVENTIONS

Please see Mr Champion's minute of 12 May attached below and Mr O'Keeffe's manuscript minute below.

2. The arrangements set out in the penultimate sentence of paragraph 2 of Mr Champion's minute under reference are in fact already in operation. I in turn keep Miss Swan informed about any new labour legislation that is enacted in Hong Kong in order that she can see whether or not it affects Hong Kong's application of the relevant ILO Convention.

3. With regard to the Secretary of State's injunction at the meeting with members of the NEC on 23 April that periodic assessments of Hong Kong's performance on ILO Conventions should be made and seen by the responsible Minister, I think we might put up such reports at six-monthly intervals. If it is agreed that this is a suitable interval between submissions I think our first assessment might go forward at the end of June. There are good reasons for this.

4. The 60th session of the ILO Conference takes place in Geneva from 4-25 June. The OLA and Miss Swan, as well as Mr Price, the Hong Kong Labour Commissioner, will be attending this meeting. At this meeting Hong Kong's performance on certain conventions will be discussed. It will also afford Miss Swan the opportunity of discussing with Mr Price those conventions that are under active consideration at the moment. In this context there are three important Conventions on which Hong Kong should soon be able to make improved declarations; nos 14 (Weekly Rest (Industry)), 95 (Protection of Wages) and 98 (Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining). With regard to the latter Convention it is hoped that recent changes in the law will allow a declaration of full application to be forwarded to the ILO in the very near future, possibly by the end of June.

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