TNAG-0650-FCO40-798-Study-of-labour-relations-in-Hong-Kong-by-Professor-H.-A.-Tu-1977 — Page 79

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they would join a trade union if they were satisfied with the activities

that that trade union undertook.

Thirty seven of the respondents stated

i

here that they would. This is roughly the same proportion of the sample

who felt trade unions should have a part to play in Hong Kong today and

who felt that trade unions should undertake each of the functions listed

in the previously discussed question. There were also differences between

the sub groups in answering this question. The respondents in the small

firms were much more likely to say don't know than those in large firms

(64% compared to 36%), although about the same proportion of each group

would be willing to join (36% and 38%). The younger men and women were

also a little more willing to join than the older men and women (44%

and 40% compared to 26% and 33%). There, however, was little difference

with regard to skill.

The interviewers reported on this last question on trade unions that some

respondents were hesitant over answering, feeling that it committed them

politically, although we did try in the formulation of this question to

make it as neutral as possible. I suggest here that this question and

the question on whether trade unions had a useful role be combined viz.

"If trade unions did undertake all these activities you feel they should,

do you think trade unions would have a useful role to play in Hong Kong

today". It would also be useful next time to ask respondents which of

the trade union functions they felt was most important.