TNAG-0648-FCO40-796-Study-of-labour-relations-in-Hong-Kong-by-Professor-H-A-Turn-1977 — Page 37

CONFIDENTIAL

P.A

Mr. Marray

Jeels

Mr Murray

PS/Lord Goronwy Roberts

Mr

at $45.

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HONG KONG: PROFESSOR TURNER'S REPORT AND THE OVERSEAS LABOUR CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE

1.

Lord Goronwy-Roberts may recall that we envisaged

Professor Turner's "Interim and Provisional Review" of Labour

Relations in Hong Kong being included on the agenda for the meeting

of the Overseas Labour Consultative Committee on 29 April, at

which Mr Luard will take the Chair. The Secretary of State sent Flag A copies of Professor Turner's Report to the General Secretary of

W67 the TUC and the Director General of the CBI on 17 March and said

Flag B

Flag C

that the OLCC meeting would provide an opportunity for them to express their views on the Report and to give their advice on the lines that the final phase of Professor Turner's study should

take.

2. I attach a copy of a paper dealing with Professor Turner's Report which has been circulated to members of the OLCC in advance of next week's meeting. (The Committee is also being provided with an up-to-date note on labour and social affairs in Hong Kong.) It contains a summary of Professor Turner's findings, drawn attention to three tentative conclusions that he reached the need for some kind of general legal minimum wage, the need to fill the gap in labour relations at work-place level and the deficiencies in the Hong Kong Government's own pay machinery

and

suggests a number of points on which the advice of members of the

OLCC would be welcome.

3.

One issue that is not dealt with in the paper on Professor Turner's Report is that of the possible association of representatives of the TUC and the CBI with the second stage of Professor Turner's study. This issue is dealt with in the attached extract from draft speaking notes that have been prepared

CONFIDENTIAL