TNAG-0785-FCO40-989-Study-of-labour-relations-in-Hong-Kong-by-Professor-H-A-Turn-1978 — Page 78

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The Hong Kong Cotton Industry Workers' General Union and the Textile Workers' Asian Regional Organisation argued recently in a memorandum to Professor H.A. Turner and his team:

"The growth of a responsible trade union movement is essential to the achievement of social justice in Hong Kong and to the Colony's peaceful develop ment. 11

Improvements in the wages and working conditions of workers, let alone the introduction of progressive social provision, cannot be initiated or implemented solely by the government working in a vacuum. Given its lack of a representative basis, the government, however well-intentioned, is bound to see the problems and aspirations of workers differently from working people. As has already been pointed out, the Hong Kong government cannot be said to have responded to the workers' needs with speed, let alone any degree of concern. Workers themselves, through their experience, intelligence and train- ing, can represent their own interests adequately. What they need is an effective social and administrative machinery to process these interests. This can best be provided by a strong representative trade union movement.

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Trade Unions

'In 'Hong Kong 1977' the government reported the existence of

311 registered employees' trade unions in 1976, with an esti- mated membership of 362,600.

There

Overall union structure in the Colony is fragmented. are two distinct trade union centres, one leaning towards Peking, the other being pro-Taiwan. In addition, a whole series of individual unions exist on what is described as a 'neutral' basis. In Hong Kong 1977' the government say that, "Due to political differences the number of unions has grown beyond practical needs, and divergent loyalties have prevented those with common interests from amalgamating into effective organisations."

However, the indications are that in recent years the growth in the number of trade unions has been more wide-spread in the public services where the unions tend to be neutral.. Thus, while ideological conflict among trade unions has obviously contributed to the relative weakness of the trade union movement, it is also true that there are other con- tributory factors.

It is well known that for some years the fear of being branded as troublemakers and the risk of being deported back to China as a result have made many workers wary of joining a trade union. Another significant factor in trade union weakness was that, until recently, trade unions were, by law, unable to employ full-time organisers.

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