TNAG-0646-FCO40-794-Application-of-international-labour-conventions-to-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 22

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Reference

153

APPENDIX IV TO SIR DENYS ROBERTS' LETTER OF 4 JANUARY 1977 TO MR STEWART

CONVENTION 27

MARKING OF WEIGHT (PACKAGES TRANSPORTED BY VESSELS).

G

A copy of the relevant report form was sent to Hong Kong on 25 April this year. Would the Government now let us know whether Hong Kong could apply the Convention ?

CONVENTION 63 STATISTICS OF WAGES AND HOURS OF WORK.

ADVE

According to the Labour Department's "General Information on IL Conventions", dated June 1976, consultation with the Census and Statistics Department is necessary to consider legislation on the compulsory collection of information as specified in the Convention. The problem of insufficient statistics in Hong Kong has been raised in the context of the Planning Paper. Is any action now contemplated which would enable the Convention requirements to be met ?

CONVENTION 77 MEDICAL EXAMINATION OF YOUNG PERSONS (INDUSTRY).

However,

Appendix IV says that medical examination of young persons entering industry is considered impractical and unnecessary. the "General Information on IL Conventions", under "proposed improvements indicated that as an initial step compulsory medical examination may be applied to occupations and industries with a high physical risk. Medical examination is already compulsory for underground workers. What exactly are the obstacles to this being extended ?

CONVENTION 82 SOCIAL POLICY (NON-METROPOLITAN TERRITORIES)

Three modifications are registered:

Articles 15 and 19(2): these relate to wider questions of statistics (a requirment for employers to keep registers of wage payments) and educational policy (fixing of the school-leaving age) which are raised in the Planning Paper.

Article 16 requires governments to lay down regulations governing the payment of advances on wages. What difficulties are there in such regulations being made in Hong Kong ?

CONVENTION 87

TO ORGANISE

FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION AND PROTECTION OF THE RIGHT

One of the most important Conventions,

I am not aware of any developments which may make it possible to remove the modifications to Hong Kong's declaration (copy attached). Mr Walsh and Mr Hurst may wish to comment however.

CONVENTION 89 NIGHT WORK (WOMEN) (REVISED)

The Convention cannot be applied because in current practice a concession is made whereby certain undertakings are permitted to employ women at night. (At present the concession applies to some

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