TNAG-0646-FCO40-794-Application-of-international-labour-conventions-to-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 127

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Mr Murray

Mr Cortazzi

PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts

In Confidence

From

T Duffy,

Telephone No. Ext.

DSR 11

Department "Hong Kong Dept

HONG KONG: REVIEW OF THE APPLICATION OF ILO CONVENTIONS

1. At a departmental meeting on 21 July 1975, the Secretary of State directed that Hong Kong's performance in regard to the application of ILO conventions should be reviewed annually, in January, and asked that Lord Goronwy- Roberts should undertake this task. I am sorry that there has been a delay this year in carrying out a review but

ä this was due to pressure of work in the department.

2. There are 33 conventions theoretically applicable to Hong Kong but not already applied and 12 conventions which have been applied with modifications (details of these are given in Annex A).

3. Ministerial interest in this subject has resulted in a greater degree of concentration by the Government of Hong Kong on the need to improve their position in relation to ILO conventions and in 1976 there were improved declarations made in respect of 3 conventions:-

Convention No 2: Convention No 14:

Unemployment (1919)

Convention No 22:

Weekly rest (Industry) (1922) Seamen's articles of agreement (1926) The Hong Kong Government had hoped to have improved declarations also on:-

Convention No 92: Accommodation of crews (Revised) Convention No 94: Labour clauses (Public Contracts)

In the event the improved declaration for convention No 94 has had to be carried over from the 1976 programme due to difficulties encountered in consultation with the Building Contractors Association Ltd.

/4. Whilst

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