CONFIDENTIAL
THAT WORKERS HAVE SUFFERED LESS FROM UNEMPLOYMENT AND INFLATION
THAN SOME OF THEIR COUNTERPARTS OVERSEAS BUT THIS DOES NOT ALTER THE FACT THAT THEIR CONDITIONS ARE RIPE FOR IMPROVEMENT.
''NOR CAN IT BE SERIOUSLY CONTENDED THAT THIS WILL DAMAGE THE
ECONOMY IF THE IMPROVEMENTS ARE INTRODUCED ACCORDING TO A CAREFULLY
PLANNED TIMETABLE."
THE STANDARD (30.10) SAYS:
4
"IT IS THE GOVERNOR'S AVOWED PHILOSOPHY OF LABOUR RELATIONS TO BRING ABOUT SOCIAL BENEFITS FOR THE BLUE COLLAR WORKERS AND
LET THEM SHARE THE FRUITS OF OUR ECONOMIC PROSPERITY. HONG KONG CAN AFFORD IT, AS NEW MEMBER TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL REV. PATRICK MCGOVERN SAID YESTERDAY. THE AMOUNT OF REVENUE COLLECTED BY THE INCOME TAX PEOPLE HAS GONE UP EVERY YEAR, EVEN DURING RECESSION YEARS. THIS SHOWS THAT THE HONGKONG BUSINESSMEN
ARE MAKING GOOD PROFITS AND CAN EASILY AFFORD TO INTRODUCE
BENEFITS FOR THEIR WORKERS. IT WOULD ALSO BE A GOOD EXERCISE IN LABOUR RELATIONS WHICH WOULD PRODUCE A STABILITY THAT IS LACKING NOW. AND GIVE AN ADDED INCENTIVE TO THE WORKERS WHICH COULD
MANIFEST ITSELF WITH INCREASED PRODUCTION AT THE SAME TIME IT
WOULD ALSO HELP RID HONGKONG OF THE ''SLAVE LABOUR **
ACCUSATIONS THAT ARE MADE BY COUNTRIES WHO FEAR OUR COMPETITIVENESS.
THIS WOULD REMOVE ONE THE THE LEVERS THAT ARE BEING USED BY TRADE
UNIONS ABROAD TO BRING PRESSURE ON THEIR GOVERNMENT TO HAVE OUR
QUOTAS CUT. IT IS NOT LESS BENEFITS OUR WORKERS NEED BUT
MORE. WE HAVE MADE A START. LET US CONTINUE IN THE SAME VEIN SO
THAT OUR WORKERS CAN ACHIEVE THE MEASURE OF SECURITY AND STABILITY
THEY DESERVE."'
SING TAO JIH PAO (OCTOBER 29), IN A LENGTHY EDITORIAL, DISCUSSED THE FACTORS THAT HAD LED TO THE PRESENT ECONOMIC AND
SOCIAL CONDITIONS IN BRITAIN.
IT SAID THE VIEWS EXPRESSED BY THE REV. FR. PATRICK MCGOVERN AND MR. LEUNG TAT-SHING ON BENEFITS FOR WORKERS, TOGETHER WITH MR. HENRY HU'S SUGGESTIONS ON PUBLIC HOUSING, WERE BASICALLY THOSE OF THE BRITISH LABOUR PARTY.
..2.. CONFIDENTIAL
/THE
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