TNAG-0571-FCO40-704-Planning-paper-on-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 35

CONFIDENTIAL

5. Lord Goronwy-Roberts said that provided there was agreement that the programme could be carried out it did not matter whether one side

There was no regarded it as the minimum and the other as the maximum. intention to add to the programme except, perhaps, in an emergency situation, which might call for quicker progress than that provided for in the Planning Paper. Sir M MacLehose observed that, eg a renewal of the oil crisis would affect Hong Kong's capacity to implement the programme and thus slow down progress. He wished it to be clear, that barring emergencies of this nature, the programme would be adhered to.

6. Lord Goronwy-Roberts said that, while the document to which the Governor had referred would be useful for private briefing in this country, it was important that the Governor's public announcement should be as full and precise as possible. It would be much easier to handle Parliamentary Questions if replies could be based on a full public statement by the Governor rather than on confidential revelations. Sir M MacLehose said that his primary concern was to secure substantial changes such as the extension of public assistance to able-bodied males between 15 and 55, paid annual holidays and improved redundancy payments and sickness benefits during the 1976/77 session. It would be very difficult for him to achieve these improvements if he were to be asked, at the same time, to announce, for example, that consideration would be given later to the introduction of statutory minimum wages for low paid occupations. Lord Goronwy-Roberts said that a general statement of intention would be acceptable provided that the programme for the next five years was sketched out and made as concrete as possible. The Governor said that he would make his statement as precise as would, in his judgement, not make for difficulties in implementing the first year of the programme. Mr Larmour suggested that it would be necessary for the Governor's statement to include a formula on the introduction of a minimum wage. Lord Goronwy-Roberts said that what was needed was a full statement on the legislative programme for the next session and as indicative as possible a statement on the programme for the next five years. It was agreed that Sir M MacLehose should correspond further with Lord Goronwy-Roberts on this subject with a view to working out a formula acceptable to all concerned.

LABOUR LEGISLATION

The meeting discussed the programme of legislation summarised in paragraph 23 (i) of Annex C to the Planning Paper.

(a) Weekly Rest Day

Sir M MacLehose said that the only outstanding issue was whether there should be one rest day a week or two days a fortnight. (This latter practice was sometimes desirable in the case of shift workers.) Mr Hurst said that Hong Kong would be following ILO recommended practice if it were to introduce one rest day a week. Sir M MacLehose thought that this would be done, unless there turned out to be any overriding objection.

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/(b)

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