TNAG-0647-FCO40-795-Study-of-labour-relations-in-Hong-Kong-by-Professor-H-A-Turn-1977 — Page 198

CONFIDENTIAL

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кий Core HONG KONG: PROFESSOR TURNER'S REPORT ON A STUDY OF LABOUR RELATIONS

Background

1.

Professor Turner, Burton Professor of Industrial Relations at Cambridge University, was engaged by HMG last year to carry out a study of labour relations in Hong Kong, to define any impediments to the development of effective trade unions, employers' organizations and the practice of collective bargaining and to draw Flag A any conclusions from such a study. (My predecessor's submission

of 19 May 1976 refers.)

72 PREVIOUS

TEARProfessor Turner's Report

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ATTACHED?.

Flag C

Professor Turner has now produced a report; I attach a copy. Professor Turner was asked to submit an interim report, if warranted, and it will be seen that he has described his report as "an Interim

and Provisional Review". Despite this qualification, the Overseas Labour Adviser and the department consider that Professor Turner's

report is a most useful and an informed piece of work. I attach the

Overseas Labour Adviser's comments.

(w/ 1273.

Professor Turner pays tribute to Hong Kong Labour Department for taking the initiative in raising labour standards and improving conditions of employment in the absence of a properly organized and effective trade union movement committed to bring about such reforms.

At the same time he suggests that progress over such matters as the introduction of paid annual holidays is slow compared with the alacrity of the Hong Kong "establishment" when there is a chance to

make profits. Professor Turner emphasizes that he has been reluctant

to draw conclusions on the basis of the limited study that he has so

far carried out but he says that his survey of the attitudes of employees suggests that there would be wide support for:

CONFIDENTIAL