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without success. In his experience the unions were politically orientated and could not be regarded as unions in the British sense. The Seamen's Union (FTU) was the largest union in Hong Kong. It was advantageous for Hong Kong seamen wishing to travel to mainland China to have a union card. The seamen's union associated with the HKTUC had on several occasions applied for affiliation to the ITF but had been rejected because they were regarded as corrupt and under the influence of shipowners. Recognition by the ITF would confer a respectability on the union and would make shipping flying the Hong Kong flag of convenience acceptable in western ports.
10. Professor Turner said that what Mr Blyth had said had confirmed his own impression of the seamen's unions. He said that Hong Kong seamen had become less in demand with ship owners because they had become relatively expensive to engage and that was due in part to the work of the recruiting office set up by the Hong Kong Government Marine Department. He asked if the introduc- tion by the Government of a regulation requiring the appointment of ship-board representatives would help to improve conditions and Mr Blyth expressed the view that men elected would be exposed to victimisation by the shipowners.
Meeting at the TUC at Congress House 4.30 pm
11. Mr G F Smith accompanied by Mr J A Hargreaves and Mr B G Bennett received the party at the TUC. Professor Turner was asked to comment on his interim report and said that it had been prepared at short notice at the request of the FCO. He then set out the main lines of his report, emphasising that trade unions in Hong Kong bore little resemblance to western unions and carried out political, cultural and social functions rather than any industrial role. He suggested that it might be possible for the TUC to contact the Chinese Government since it was only at a
Hear command from Peking that unions associated with the FTU would
change the direction of their activities. He would make a further attempt to contact the FTU in his return to Hong Kong.
12. Mr Smith commented that even if allowance was made for the Hong Kong Government's continuing programme of social and labour reform, it would take a long time and a major improvement of labour legislation before the large competitive advantage of Hong Kong producers could be eliminated. Imports from Hong Kong were causing great concern in the UK and other European countries, especially in the electronics industry. Professor Turner said that there was room for improvement in the conditions of many workers in Hong Kong but he could not envisage that Hong Kong trade unions would play a part in raising labour standards. means would need to be found.
Other
13. Mr Hargreaves said that the basic concern of the TUC was not to improve conditions in Hong Kong nor to reduce the competitive advantage which Hong Kong had. It was possible to obtain international agreement to restrain imports from low cost producers.
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/Trade
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