TNAG-1519-FCO40-2080-Employment-in-Hong-Kong-1986 — Page 168

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Ms Walker, Hong Kong Dept

Walker,

HONG KONG AND THE ILO

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CONFIDENTIAL

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Mr Powell

when we receive thr Chen's letter

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I presume we will seed Legal advisers about this proposal (But if Bermuda already send their omne delegation there seemsing reason why shows uit do

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стома 1. Further to my minute of 2 July, Mr Chen, the Deputy Commission for Labour, Hong Kong, mentioned various steps he would like taken in order to strengthen Hong Kong's future position at the ILO. Mr Chen will be writing formally to us with his proposals but in the fe meantime you may find it useful to have the following background

2. Up to now, the Hong Kong Labour Department have been sending a representative to ILO Conferences who sits with our Delegation. In future they would prefer to send their own tripartite delegation to ILO Conferences in the same way that Bermuda now does. As a first step, Mr Chen suggests that Hong Kong send a tripartite delegation to the ILO Asian Regional Conference which is due to be held in Jakarta in November. If this were found acceptable, such a Delegation would have to attend under UK auspices, which I think could be provided by a representative from our Embassy in Jakarta We should of course need to liaise with the Embassy over this.

3.

Mr Chen would like us to agree to the participation of a tripartite delegation from Hong Kong at next year's ILO Conference Informal approaches made to the CBI and TỤC in Geneva suggest that they would not foresee any problems. The CBI's only concern would be not to lose a member of their present team as a result, but this is unlikely since the Hong Kong Government would of course pay the full delegation's expenses. Informal soundings were also taken by Mr Chen of Miss Hilary Kellerson who is the ILO's Senior Legali Adviser and who is very knowledgeable about Hong Kong's position She was very helpful and informed him that Bermuda had first starte sending a tripartite delegation to the ILO She also could not foresee any problems over Hong Kong acting in the same way

4.

Mr Chen would not anticipate any problems over the selection an employer's representative in the proposed delegation but the selection of the trade unionist would require careful consideration The leftist unions would cause the least trouble as they would follow the wishes of the Mainland Chinese, whom he believes would view these developments favourably. [Apropos of this Mr Chen mentioned the recent elections to the Labour Advisory Board The results provided one left wing, one pro-Taiwan and one Civil Servi trade unionist. There was genuine participation but the left wing trade unions were obviously instructed by China on how they should vote. In Mr Chen's view the results achieved must have been what Chinese wanted as he maintains they have complete control over the leftist unions.] In these circumstances, the (neutral) Civil Service unionist might be the best bet.

Mr.

of the forthcoming

be interesting therefore to see the outcome said that it woul legislative elections, as a revelation of Chinese intention

lops as a revelation of Chin

15. Mr Chen pointed out that Hong Kong already participates in G meetings and will have separate contracting status there early, he year. Major changes in Hong Kong's status in this body are now ›› proceeding and Hong Kong's relationship to GATT is rather more

central

CODE 18.77

CONFIDENTIAL