TNAG-0747-FCO40-951-Visits-of-Foreign-and-Commonwealth-officials-to-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 94

Rèį CR 1/3051/78

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Drafted by: DSWW/JWC/ph 12.4.78

CONFIDENTIAL

Summary of Comments on the Report by the Overseas. Labour Adviser (Mr. Harry R.G. Hurst) on a Visit to Hong Kong 16th February to 2nd March 1978

Introduction (paras. 1 - 4 of Report)

(a) Para. 2, last sentence:

(b)

(c)

While the observation may be correct from the production side, from the expenditure side it was domestic consumption that caused the growth in GDP to be as high as 12%.

Para. 3 2nd sentence:

The number of workers in September 1977 represents a decline of 10% from the September 1976 figure of 390,997.

Para. 3, 5th sentence:

In Hong Kong's circumstances a 5%

growth in domestic exports cannot be described as "good".

Summary of Conclusions (para. 44)

(a): No change should be made for the present in ti conditions prescribed by the Commissioner for

Labour which regulate the employment of women on night work (pura. 8 of the Report

Agreed but the situation will be kept

under review.

Surprisingly the employers' representativ on the Labour Advisory Board did not raise this

subject when they met Mr. Hurst. If there is renewed pressure from employers, some slight relaxation of the present restrictions should be considered, for example:

(a). to reduce the "eligible" shift size from

50 to 25 women;

(b)

to eliminate the need for women to change off the night shift every two months.

CONFIDENTIAL

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