TNAG-0531-FCO40-626-Application-of-International-Labour-Convention-to-Hong-Kong-1975 — Page 358

A

ILO.

MXL 7/393/3

12

APPLICATION OF ILO CONVENTIONS TO HONG KONG

ale to Miss Swan

Mr Walton Spter.

RECFI REGIS. +

0.51

12 MAY 1975

L. I agree with Miss Swan that Hong Kong can indeed be very irritating but I think we must not lose sight of our purpose which is to ensure the full application of the key Convention No.98 (Freedom to Bargain Collectively) by Hong Kong.

2. In paragraph 2 of our despatch of 4 December 1974, we said that we proposed to arrange for a declaration of full application of Convention No.98 to Hong Kong to be deposited with the Inter- national Labour Office. The despatch went on to give warning to the Hong Kong Government of questions that might be raised by the Committee of Experts of the IIO. I think, however, that the despatch went beyond the policy agreed in the preceding minute where, in para.4, confirmation was requested from the Hong Kong Government "that there would be no difficulty in meeting any Requests the Committee of Experts may make" on the matters raised in the despatch. I had understood that the recommendation in the final sentence of paragraph 8 of my minute of 25 November 1974, as endorsed by Mr Stuart and Mr Champion, would be followed. But para.4 of the despatch goes somewhat further than was agreed and I would have advised against it had my advice been sought.

3. What is now proposed is that we should go even further and should only make a Declaration in respect of Convention No.98 "on the receipt of a firm assurance [from the Hong Kong Government that any amendments called for by the Committee of Experts will be dealt with with all possible speed etc".

4. The Hong Kong Government, and in particular the Department of Labour, are making every effort to improve Hong Kong's performance with regard to the application of International Labour Conventions This is a policy that has our full support since Hong Kong's performance with regard to applying I L Conventions is a constant subject of criticism. Only a few days ago the Secretary of State

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