TNAG-0572-FCO40-705-Monitoring-of-progress-made-on-planning-paper-on-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 62

CONFIDENTIAL

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Mr Cortazzi

Aired bHILD O13/32874

HONG KONG: GOVERNOR'S STATEMENT TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL: LABOUR AFFAIRS

1. I attach Mr Bacon's minute of 21 September and a copy of the

draft section on labour affairs for the Governor's statement at

the opening of the new session of the Legislative Council on 6 October. Despite what Mr Bacon says in paragraph 3 of his minute, the Governor has not so far been in touch with the depart-

ment about the text of any part of his proposed statement.

2. We have examined the Governor's draft against the record of his meetings with Minister and officials in July and, in particular, the record of his meeting with Lord Goronwy-Roberts on 21 July,

at which there was a good deal of discussion about what the

Governor might say on labour affairs. We have also taken account of developments on the labour front in Hong Kong in the intervening period, e.g. the enactment of legislation increasing the number of statutory paid public holidays from 6 to 10, and the Executive Council's approval of legislation providing for one week's paid annual holiday, (See accompanying submission.) The Governor covers those measures in the labour field included in the summary of recommendations in paragraph 23 of Annex C and in paragraph 1 of Annex D to the Planning Paper which clearly called for action by the Legislative Council at its next session.

3. As you will see from Mr Bacon's minute, the Governor invited Lord Goronwy-Roberts to pay particular attention to the wording of paragraphs 6 and 7 of his draft, which deal with the general considerations to be taken into account in formulating fresh

labour legislation. I think that the wording of these paragraphs is admirable. The Overseas Labour Adviser has seen the draft and

agrees. In particular, I am glad that the Governor proposes to emphasize the point that Hong Kong needs to raise its standards to a level comparable to that of its principal competitors in order not to leave itself open to criticism from governments of

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CONFIDENTIAL