9.
4.
The TUC is likely to take particular note of the statement in paragraph 74(d) that the Hong Kong "establishment" can be ponderously slow in introducing social or labour improvements compared with their alacrity "when a potential for profit is concerned".
5. Similarly, the TUC can be expected to seize on paragraph 74(e) in support of the argument that there is access to cheap labour in Hong Kong.
6. Finally, the TUC will see in the recommendation at paragraph 80(1) support for their conviction that "Hong Kong needs some kind of general legal minimum wage". In my view, the TUC will also support the other two recommendations in paragraph 80 for some form of industrial relations machinery at work-place level and for the Hong Kong Government to improve its own industrial relations arrangements.
The State of Trade Unions in Hong Kong
7. The review confirms the ineffectiveness of the Hong Kong trade union movement and analyses the reasons for its weaknesses (paras. 13 - 18): it points to the almost complete absence of collective bargaining and collective agreements (paras. 19 23) and pinpoints the deficiencies of the industrial relations system as practised in the Public Service (para. 24).
8. The reasons for the failure of trade unions in Hong Kong to function in the interests of their members as wage earners are analysed in paragraphs 59 - 66. The review emphasises that the unions' activities are dominated by non-industrial functions e.g. discount stores, lectures, visits, and social welfare activities. Nevertheless, the potential importance of the Peking-aligned Federation of Trade Unions is emphasised should there be a new ideological crisis in Peking resulting in disturbances in Hong Kong (para. 74(a)). The right-wing pro-Taiwan Trades Union Council comes in for special criticism (para. 65). The neutral unions in Government and Public employment are also described as mainly social though they do promote the narrow interest of members in individual departments or occupational groups (para. 66). In fact, the review concludes that there are only two really effective unions: the Cable and Wireless Non-Expatriate Staff Association and the Professional Teachers Union (paras. 59 and 66) and that the present trade unions cannot fulfil the evident "need for change" (para. 78).
FCO Interests
The review draws attention to:-
(i) The genuine attempt made by the Administration to improve
social conditions and labour legislation (paras. 8 and 9).
(ii)
The importance of the Labour Department in filling the gap caused by the ineffectiveness of the trade union movement (para. 67).
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