17. Thus the typical Hong Kong trade union engages in a considerable number of activities of a social, cultural, recreational or quasi-political character which, in many cases, represent their major function (para 60). Subscriptions are generally too low to maintain an effective staff. Shop-floor
organisation is lacking and neither industrial unions mor the two major federations have systematic programmes, either as social improvements or as the basis for negotiating periodic revision of terms of employment.
18. The dominant left-wing grouping, the FTU, offers its members special facilities such as discount stores, lectures and trips to China, schools and so on (para 61). It provides assistance to deal with members' grievances but takes no official position in any industrial dispute. FTU unions may take a more active part if this is likely to result in an increase of membership (para 62), but significantly the PTU undertook no positive action in 1974 when workers were concerned with redundancy, nor has it been at all militant in the wider field of legislative and social provision (para 63). There is clearly mutual tolerance between the FTU and Right Wing TUC unions at the workplace, even when the usually smaller TUC union is "recognised" by the employer.
19. The industrial quiescence of the FTU group is probably due to the influence of Peking (para 64) and to the fact that union
membership is based on the non-industrial advantages of membership, pride in Chinese achievement and on prudence for possible future
political events.
20.
The Right Wing unions grouped under the HKTUC are similarly dominated by non-industrial functions and are senescent and sometimes corrupt according to several managements (para 65). That they are sometimes 'recognised" is probably due to the management's wish to avoid dealing with a left-wing organisation.
Even the "neutral unions" which mainly exist in the Public
Service, are primarily social in function, though many promote the narrow interests of workers in individual departments or particular occupational groups (para 66).
21.
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