ENG-1947 — Page 16

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and the assessment of the conflicting needs of the multifarious plans submitted naturally required deliberate consideration. A further limiting factor was the proviso that no expenditure involving constructive work may be authorised under the Act in a territory where trade union legislation has not been enacted. This is the case in Hong Kong where the Trade Unions and Trade Disputes Bill has not yet become law. During the first half of 1947, the local Development Committee, which was under the Chairmanship of the Secretary for Development, continued to meet; most of the work was done in sub-committees meeting frequently to deal with such questions as housing and town planning, port development, public health, natural resources, welfare and education. Finally during the summer a report was submitted by the Committee containing recommendations for the development of certain of the Colony's resources over a period of five years. The proposals were largely concerned with primary production, with the fostering of the fishing industry, the development of agriculture and the spread of co-operative methods among the rural and fishing population.

Baguio Conference.

At the second session of the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Far East which was held at Baguio in the Philippines from the 24th November to the 6th December, 1947, the Colony of Hong Kong was formally admitted as an Associate Member of the Commission. Mr. Lo Man-kam, C.B.E., as delegate for Hong Kong, accordingly took his place in the plenary session of the Commission and spoke for Hong Kong in the subsequent deliberations. This is the first time that Hong Kong has been represented as an individual territory in one of the organisations of the United Nations.

END OF PART I

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