TNAG-0570-FCO40-703-Planning-paper-on-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 96

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(a) the provision of four rest days a month to manual workers

and not, as required by the relevant International Labour

Convention, one rest day per week; it is intended to introduce this

in 1977.

12. Even Hong Kong's critics acknowledge the valuable role played by the Government's Labour Department in the improvement of

working conditions in recent years; but they remain convinced that more should be done without jeopardising Hong Kong's ability to compete on world markets. Clearly if criticism of labour conditions in Hong Kong is to be met a coherent programme of legislation to bring conditions up to at least the best in Asia

is necessary.

Institutions

The

13. Further social progress in Hong Kong will depend on public support for the necessary legislation and higher taxation. normal method for mobilising this through democratic representative institutions is precluded in the case of Hong Kong. China's opposition to the development of such institutions, which could affect their claim to sovereignty and lead to growth of KMT influence in the Colony is well understood by the local population.

14.

Other more limited solutions to the problem of introducing elective institutions have been suggested:

(a) the election of only a few unofficial members of the Legislative Council;

(b) appointment of a specified number of those elected to the Urban Council (a municipal body with limited powers partly elected on a very limited franchise);

(c) extension of the Urban Council's field of responsibility.

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