2.
The HSE rarely (say two or three cases a year on average) have to reject an application for an order. Grounds for refusal would be that any of the criteria have not been satisfied. In addition, a majority of the workers concerned might not be willing to work at the revised hours. In the latter case, the HSE might still issue an Order but would restrict it to volunteers or to those specially recruited for the proposed scheme of work.
You might already know that the attitudes of the TUC and the CBI on restrictions regulating the employment of women on night work in this country are diametrically opposed. For this reason I would expect that the British trade unions which have shown a special interest in Hong Kong such as the National Union of Hosiery and Knitwear Workers and the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers would be likely to cast a critical eye on any relaxations introduced in Hong Kong. The attitude of British unions was made clear at last year's Trades Union Congress in Blackpool when a resolution opposing any relaxations in this country was adopted. You might be interested in glancing at the attached extract from the General Council's Report presented to Congress and the verbatim record of the proceedings which led up to the adoption of the resolution I have mentioned.
There are also two cautionary points in the HSE material : namely that health, safety and welfare conditions in the factories concerned must be satisfactory and, secondly, that the women concerned must be willing to work at night.
I hope that this is helpful to you and that you enjoyed your stay in Geneva.
Jou
r3 Sum
sunwel,
Tany
HRG Hurst
Overseas Labour Adviser
bc : Mr Webb
HKGD K242
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