TNAG-1327-FCO40-1740-Future-of-Hong-Kong-Ministerial-statements-1984 — Page 144

APPENDIX VII

EXPLANATORY NOTE ON TRADE UNIONS, TRADITIONAL BODIES AND THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY

Kaifong Associations

Kaifong Associations are traditional Chinese neighbourhood organizations concerned with the provision of social, recreational and emergency relief services to residents in an area.

Clansmen Associations

Clansmen Associations are traditional Chinese organizations formed to promote closer ties among persons with the same surname, or dialect, or from the same province or county.

Trade Unions

About 16 per cent of the employed population belongs to trade unions in Hong Kong. These unions can be divided into three main groups:

(a) 92 unions affiliated to the Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions who tend to support the policies of the People's Republic of China and represent some 50 per cent of the unionized labour force of about 350,000;

(b) 79 unions affiliated to the Hong Kong and Kowloon Trades Union Council who tend to support the policies of Taiwan and represent about 10 per cent of the unionized labour force; and

(c) independent unions (mainly civil service unions).

Religious Communities

There are many religious denominations in Hong Kong. Some half million people are Christians, i.e. Catholics and Protestants. More are Buddhists. In addition to spiritual counselling, these religious communities are actively engaged in education, health care and social welfare services.

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