CODE 18 - 77
Marke
LA 393/2
Reference.....
Por
Mr David, HKGD
109TH TRADES UNION CONGRESS:
1.
HONG KONG
On 8 September the 109th Trades Union Congress adopted the motion on Hong Kong (copy attached) which we brought to the attention of your Department at the end of last month. The motion was moved by Mr AR Smith of the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers who commended the General Council of the TUC on their activities in respect of Hong Kong and pointed to the direct responsibility of the Government in Hong Kong. He explained how Hong Kong differed from developing countries in Asia with the large proportion of her work force in manufacturing industry and her diversified economy in which US, UK and Japanese companies had substantial interests. The textiles industry was still predominant imports from Hong Kong of shirts in particular had almost put an end to the production of shirts in the UK - but Hong Kong had moved into the production of watches, tele- vision sets and electronic equipment and polystyrene and into ship- building, posing a threat to counterpart industries in the UK and the rest of Europe.
2.
G
He expressed the view that industrial expanision had not been matched by a sufficiently great increase in wages but of much more serious concern was the conspicuous absence of social security provisi on. There was no requirement to contribute to pension schemes, no health insurance, and no unemployment benefit and responsibility lay with the British Government British and American capital was avoid- ing its obligations in Hong Kong and employers were pursuing a pater- nalistic approach to their employees in Hong Kong. However, employers were open to influence and criticism by the British trade union move- ment might be effective.
3. At the end of his speech Mr Smith addressed himself to the terms of the motion, calling for publication of Professor Turner's report in full and expressing the hope that both the TUC and CBI would be enabled to take part in discussion on the report and on social developments in Hong Kong generally. His union would continue to raise the matter whenever opportunity to do so arose.
4.
The motion was formally seconded and unanimously adopted.
You didn't miss much!
4KK 212/548/2.
20 SEP 183
Michel Walshe
INDEX
14 September 1977
T..ken
M T Walsh
Deputy Overseas Labour Adviser
Dimial
Miv 241.1/ori
w/w Jully
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