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27. It is recommended therefore that a small Labour
Policy Committee be created in the Secretariat, the membership to include the D.C. S. and Commissioner of Labour, plus the Chairman of the ad hoc Essential Services Committee, with the object of speeding up decisions on policy and maintaining a close oversight of the progress of projected labour legislation at all
stages.
28. Apart from the legislative programme described earlier, there are two additional improvements in working conditions which should be pursued:-
(a)
(b)
A right for all workers to enjoy one work- free day a week, and
the present free day of women and young persons to be made uniform,
Of these the first is the more important, and the Minister of State has commended it as an object of policy. It is interesting that the Federation of Hong Kong Industries has already commended to its membership a twenty-six day working month.
Social Security
29. An inter-departmental working party on social security was established in 1966 and reported early this year. The report was considered by Executive Council, who decided that public opinion should be sounded by publishing the report in English and Chinese, and it is expected that publication will take place this month (November 1967). The report is very long and detailed and it is doubtful whether it will arouse much public interest unless the Information Services stimulates
radio discussion and newspaper interest. It is assumed that Departments will be asked for their comments
on the report.
30. The report gives an excellent survey of the general principles of social security and their relationship to Hong Kong's problems, but, covering as it docs, a very wide field, both in its survey and its recommendations, expert examination of the proposals should be an early priority. This could probably be arranged through a
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