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Page No. 6 of 10 pages
Rabies
23.
There has been a sharp increase in rabies in Guangdong Province
and persons arriving from there report a number of deaths from the epidemic
and vigorous counter-measures by the authorities. However, no official
notification has been received in Hong Kong and a request for authoritative
information has been made. The Government agencies concerned in Hong Kong
have already taken certain steps to minimise the risk of infection spreading
to the territory but, with the high level of movement, both legal and
illegal, across the border, this is not an easy task.
LABOUR AFFAIRS
24.
Most Civil Service unions reacted favourably to the annual pay
adjustment. The Public Health Inspectors Association (PHIA) and the Union of
Post Office Employees (UPOE) have recognised the need to strengthen their
finances for the disputes yet to come : the PHIA has announced a
substantially increased subscription and the UPOE is negotiating to sell its
premises. The UPOE is still intent on industrial action at Christmas unless
its claims for better working conditions and changes in the promotion system
are met in the meantime. There are indications of a mounting campaign by
communist unions in some public utility companies to regain management
recognition of their status utility companies withdrew such recognition
during the 1967 confrontation.
25.
B
The communist controlled Hong Kong Seamen's Union is in financial
difficulty as a result of falling membership and the reluctance of shipping
firms to employ Hong Kong seamen at wage rates which are among the highest
in Asia. To meet the situation, the union committee has leased sections of
one of its offices to local business firms and is considering offering better
recreational and educational facilities to its members.
PRESSURE GROUPS
26.
Pressure groups have concentrated on the death of a television
actor who was shot by an off-duty police detective (since charged with murder)
and on the Green Paper on District Administration. Efforts to launch a
campaign in connection with the shooting have so far failed, mainly for lack
of support from the public generally. The Green Paper has been the subject
of debate, informed and otherwise, among a large number of organisations
which have expressed a wide variety of views. The general view of these
organisations is one of restrained approval accompanied by demands for
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