Mr Cortazzi
SECRET
Okeeffe han leen
In Okulle M. Mou
RECEIVED T
Wi
་.
2 1 JUL1976
51
026/570/9
20
/vii
MEETING WITH THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG
डिट गगत
1. You may like a note of the main points which arose at my meeting with the Governor.
2. I said that we realised how difficult the Governor's job was in trying to satisfy both UK opinion and Hong Kong opinion. However, Ministers were under severe pressure here, most notably from the TUC (who had a membership as well as an altruistic interest) but also from the NEC and (to a lesser extent) in Parliament. I thought that Labour legislation was of crucial importance, that public expenditure increases as proposed in the Planning Paper would be extremely helpful, and that the broadening of LegCo was vital.
3. On particular points, I emphasised the importance of some progress on a minimum wage. The Governor pointed out that there was a difficulty of enforcement; also, too high a minimum wage might cause unemployment. We agreed it might be worth exploring in greater depth with the Labour Adviser some prior step (eg an advisory minimum wage) as a first step.
4. On the Trade Union representative of LegCo, I said that such an appointment was essential. The Governor thought that he could if necessary make such an appointment, but only if there was a fair guarantee that he would not later be pressed to make further such appointments. I said that personally I thought that the one appointment would enable us to hold the position for the time being at least.
19 July 1976
c.c.
Mr Larmour
Mr Male
Mr O'Keeffe
FED
OLA
Economists
Planning Staff
SECRET
David Lipsy
David Lipsey
W)
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