TNAG-2151-FCO40-3070-Trade-unions-in-Hong-Kong-1990 — Page 30

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13

UNCLASSIFIED

HONGKONG

315353/21

10

ACTION: POL-09 INFO: AMB DCM USIS POLL PLAD ECON-5 SCI FIN CUS

DAO SUSL CCA EDIN /26

VZCZ P0727 LAO248

RR ROTHLD

DE RUEHHK #5353/01 2973331

ZNR UUUUU ZZH

R 240322Z OCT 90

FM AMCONSUL HONG KONG

TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0589

INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2438 RUFHLD/AMEMBASSY LONDON 9545 RUFHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 4125

RUMJ SA/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 1668

FT

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 HONG KONG 15353

E.0. 12356:

TAGS:

SUBJECT:

N/A

PGOV, ELAB, HK

24-OCT-90 TCR : 23:33

CHRG:

STA

THE HONG KONG CONFEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS

1. THIS IS THE THIRD IN A SERIES OF REPORTS ON THE HONG KONG POLITICAL SPECTRUM A YEAR BEFORE THE FIRST DIRECT ELECTION TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL. (LEGCO).

2. SUMMARY: THE HONG KONG CONFEDERATION TRADE- UNIONS (CTU), ESTABLISHED IN AUGUST THIS YEAR, IS A 97,000-MEMBER LABOR ORGANIZATION MAINLY COMPOSED OF INDEPENDENT UNIONS. THE CTU FOUNDERS HOPE TO ESTABLISH A VIABLE AND COMPETITIVE ALTERNATIVE IN THF LOCAL LABOR MOVEMENT BY INTEGRATING DIVIDED NON-PARTISAN LABOR UNIONS AND FORGING A CLOSE COOPERATION WITH LOCAL LIBERAL POLITICAL GROUPINGS AND INTERNATIONAL LABOR ORGANIZATIONS. WITH THE RAPID APPROACH OF THE 1991 ELECTIONS, THE POLITICAL POTENTIAL OF THE CTU APPEARS TO HAVE GATHERED MOMENTUM BY THE FORMATION OF A UNION-PARTY ALLIANCE WITH THE UNITED DEMOCRATS OF HONG KONG (UDHK), STRENGTHENING COMMUNITY NETWORKS AND GETTING PUBLICITY IN THE MEDIA, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A GRAND LABOR COALITION WITH INDEPENDENT AND PRO-TAIWAN UNIONS TO COORDINATE ELECTORAL EFFORTS AND, AT THE SAME TIME, COUNTERACT THE INFLUENCE OF ITS LEFT-WING COMPETITOR, THE FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS (FTU). THUS, THE 1991 ELECTIONS WILL BECOME A TEST FOR THE VIABILITY OF THE UNION-PARTY ALLIANCE, AND A CONTEST FOR INFLUENCE, STRENGTH AND CREDIBILITY OF THESE TWO OPPOSING CAMPS IN THE LOCAL LABOR ARENA. FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES, INADEQUATE COMMITMENT OF ITS CONSTITUENT MEMBERS, CONFUSING ROLE OF ITS LEADERS AND BEIJING'S SUSPICION OF ITS INTERNATIONAL LINKAGE AND CHALLENGE TO LOCAL LEFT-WING TRADE UNIONS, HOWEVER, MAY HINDER THE CTU FROM EVOLVING INTO A STRONG FORCE IN THE LOCAL LABOR ARENA. END SUMMARY.

HISTORICAL & POLITICAL CONTEXT:

DIST: POL

CC: HKD)

(AMPONI)

AJ

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