Employers in the UK felt that responsibility for industrial relations in Hong Kong rested in Hong Kong and employers there might be alienated by attempts to influence them from outside the Colony. The CBI had no effective contact with employers in Hong Kong.
9. Mr Stewart supported an earlier comment by Mr Hurst that the present report in its interim state was not suitable for circulation to organisations in Hong Kong. He believed that Professor Turner's final report would be ready about the end of 1977. Professor Turner had ideas in mind which he would wish to evaluate on his return to Hong Kong. His final report would be submitted to the Secretary of State but he (Mr Stewart) believed that Professor Turner subsequently intended to publish a fuller version under the auspices of the Cambridge University Press. In effect, this would be an academic study including the work of his collaborators and supported by the normal scholarly apparatus of references etc. Mr Stewart added that the Governor had had discussions with Professor Turner and might well take into account the general conclusions reached in the interim report when preparing his speech which traditionally opens the new session of Legislative Council in the autumn.
10. The Chairman commented that the interim study corroborated the belief that unions in Hong Kong were weak and fragmented and could not play an effective part in collective bargaining. He hoped it would prove possible to fill the gap identified by Professor Turner resulting from the lack of workers' representation at the workplace. He agreed it was important that the TUC and CBI should have the opportunity to discuss Professor Turner's interim con- clusions with him this summer. probably in June or July, and the points which they wished him to consider in the final phase of his work. The introduction of a legal minimum wage could then be discussed. At some stage it would be necessary for the OLCC to be reconvened to consider the final report and careful consideration would have to be given to the timing of its general distribution. Non-publication need not hold up administrative action in Hong Kong as extensive local consultation could take place between the Administration and interested parties as a basis for formulating proposals.
South Africa: African Trade Unions and Industrial Relations Practices
11.
The Chairman drew attention to developments in South Africa affecting the industrial representation of Black workers. He thought that amendments to the Bantu Labour Relations Act, which are under consideration in South Africa, foresaw a new role for liaison committees: but the amendments did not seem to bring nearer the recognition by employers of Black trade unions.
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