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6. Mr Thomas seemed to agree with me that the basic issues in dispute, relating to equal pay, could probably only be resolved by reference to arbitration and that could only come about when arbitration facilities are available across the board in Hong Kong. Mr Thomas had intended to write to Dr Owen on the subject of the shorthand and audio typists' dispute but would now await further developments.
He
7. Mr Batchelor of the PSI took a more cautions line. explained that his first concern was for the PSI's major affiliate in Hong Kong, the HK Chinese Civil Servants' Association. He was aware that the Shorthand and Audio Typists Association had, as he put it, fallen out with the HKCCSA and he was concerned lest any other of the smaller civil service unions now affiliated to the HKCCSA whould find in Mrs Cheung's example good reasons for "going it alone". I do not think we can expect much help from Mr Batchelor and it is unfortunate that Me Hegarty, who was with the two ladies when they saw Lord Goronwy-Roberts, is absent on PSI business in Africa. will try to contact him next week when he should be back in Britain.
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8. Mr Bloom of NUPE thought there was little he or his Union could do though he revealed that he had been in touch with Mr Thomas and with Mr Pendry MP who is very keen on the Shorthand and Audio Typists' Association achieving a settlement.
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30 January 1978
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HR G Hurst Overseas Labour Adviser
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