TNAG-0785-FCO40-989-Study-of-labour-relations-in-Hong-Kong-by-Professor-H-A-Turn-1978 — Page 12

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Reference.

-/14/2.

Mr Hurst, Overseas Labour Adviser

TURN

1

REFORT

10.3 1977

CE A.

I spoke again to the Governor Hong Kong on the telephone this morning about the Turner Report (my note of 3 February). I had previously told him that we were committed to showing the interim report to the meeting of the Overseas Labour Consultative Committee on 29 April. I told the Governor that I hoped that we would have the comments of the Hong Kong Government which would include the results of Frofessor Turner's discussions in Hong Kong before that.

2. The Governor told me that he himself was very keen that Professor Turner should now have an opportunity to complete his studies and to produce a final version of his report. I said that I myself agreed with him but that we were committed by the terms of Mr Crosland's letter to Mr Murray to seek the advice of the OLCC on an extension and on the form it should take. The Governor emphasised that if an extension were agreed the terms and reference including honoraria, expenses and timing should be much more carefully framed than they had been for the first part of the study. I agreed. He also said that he thought it was important that no deadline for the production of the final report should be included. I did not indicate assent or dissent but I think that this is a reasonable point.

3.

The Secretary of State is meeting the TUC on 25 February. Kong Department will try to submit the interim report to the Secretary

Hong of State via Lord Goronwy-Roberts by that date in order that the Secretary of State, if questioned on the Turner Report, will be able to say that it is now in our hands and that we can send copies to the TUC in good time for consideration at the OLCC meeting on 29 April. I accept that it will not be possible to include in the submission to the Secretary of State any comments on the report by Hong Kong. I suggest that we must accept this limitation and try to ensure that Hong Kong's comments are available in time for the OLCC meeting.

4.

I accent that no formal decision can be made on extension of the study before the CLCC meeting. However I suggest that we should now approach ODM and try to get from them a commitment to finance the study either wholly or in part. You will be aware the Governor has offered to match £ for £ any contribution by ODM to the study. told the Governor this morning that I anticipated grave difficulties

I in persuading ODM to finance the study and asked him if he would be prepared to finance the whole. I told him in reply to his objection that in our opinion Professor Turner's credibility would not be affected by the sources of the financing of his study given his status and national reputation. He said that if there was no other way he would try to finance the study eg through the Centre for Asian Studies at the University.

10 February 1977

2.0. Bland

A B Stewart

Hong Kong Department

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