TNAG-0650-FCO40-798-Study-of-labour-relations-in-Hong-Kong-by-Professor-H.-A.-Tu-1977 — Page 124

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the leadership's political identification is elderly and

historical; it conveys no real future hope. In the case of the

two biggest T.U.C. affiliates, the Restaurant Workers and Cotton

Industry Workers, they appear to rely largely on employer support

or tolerance. Much of the Restaurant Workers' funds is drawn from

contributions by employers; in firms where they are "recognised"

by managements, Right unions are often aware that this acceptance

is designed, substantially, to avoid the firm having to deal with

a left-wing organisation; they seem unwilling to disturb this

acceptance by undue militancy. Several managements have said that Right-wing union officials are corruptible; it was generally agreed

in contrast, that the administration of F.T.U. unions was/ if not always 100%

efficient, morally impeccable and dedicated).

58.

The position of the "neutral" unions largely arises from the special circumstances of Government and public employment, which have already been described, and the special tolerance which has been

extended to the multiplication of employee societies there. Many of

these exist to promote the narrow interests of workers in individual

departments or particular occupational groups, and to secure some special and preferential improvement on the terms negotiated annually through the present unrepresentative Senior Civil Service Council.

But even there, I gather that many so-called unions are primarly social

in function. The most impressive association, as a trade union, which

I personally encountered the Professional Teachers' Union already

mentioned has to deal with the special problem that most education

in Hong Kong is provided through non-governmental schools, and there is little uniformity of pay and conditions of service between public

and private employment.

/Otherwise