}
Immediate Tasks
The immediate task is to find ways of strengthening the Hong Kong trade union movement. The one obvious way of doing this is through a series of amalgamations. But, given the ideological differences that exist in the frame- work of the movement this method can only be applied selectively. For example, many of the unions operating in the public service are neutral. It should be pos- sible to encourage amalgamations of some of them into viable units, though extreme caution, even here, would have to be adopted when approaching the issue. One must not minimise the will to exist, once established, of what, to the outsider, may appear as paper organisations. In areas where formal amalgamations prove impossible other avenues should be explored, if necessary on an ad hoc basis, in order to enable and encourage existing trade unions to deal with the immediate problems of workers. Some of the arrangements could be carefully de- fined with or without formal leadership; depending on
the situation.
Negotiating Machinery
Trade unions in Hong Kong have been condemned for lack of activity. Yet it is apparent that for existing unions to develop into effective institutions they simply have to show a record of activity and achievement on behalf of
their members.
One important step towards achieving this objective would be to open the field of wage determination by includ- ing trade union participation which simply does not exist to any great extent at the moment. No doubt considerable difficulties would be encountered, not least from the
Colony's employers. In addition the ideological divisions in the trade unions already referred to would be likely to impede progress. However, unions in the public service ought to find it easier to co-operate if joint negotiating mach- ineries were established on a fairly comprehensive scale, The various unions could then have one representative negotiating team. The negotiating team would be respon-
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