TNAG-0647-FCO40-795-Study-of-labour-relations-in-Hong-Kong-by-Professor-H-A-Turn-1977 — Page 209

Mrurray

PS

/Lord Goronwy-Roberts

CONFIDENTIAL

AKF

IN

RI

3 MAR 1977

HKK 212/548/1

فرح

31

Plar A

Flag B

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

conclusions from such a study. (My predecessor's submission

an

of 13 May 1976 refers.)

Professor Turner's Report

2. 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

Flag C Overseas Labour Adviser's comments.

3.

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 blow 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