ENG-1953 — Page 43

HONG KONG ANNUAL REPORT, 1953

above wages.

This allowance is based on the market prices of food and fuel. During the late summer the Chinese authorities restricted the export of pigs and the cost of pork rose sharply, reaching a peak towards the end of September. This was reflected in the Cost of Living Allowance by a rise of about 10%.

10%. Apart

Apart from this increase, which was only temporary, the cost of living remained steady during the year. Some Chinese firms pay wages at a fixed level apart from increments for increased service and skill and compensate for fluctuations in the price of food either by providing it free or by subsidizing supply above the fixed charge.

The Retail Price Index, which is used for the payment of Cost of Living Allowances to Government servants with basic monthly salaries of $200 or over, rose to 130 for September, having stood at around 120 for the earlier part of the year. The Index is affected mostly by increases in the cost of food alone because food is weighted at approximately 50% of the total and the remainder is based on factors such as rent, transport and clothing.

Labour Department

In the field of industrial relations Labour Officers of the department mediate in disputes between employers and employed when required. The Labour Inspectorate carries out the field work involved in the routine inspection and registra- tion of a growing number of factories and workshops and is also responsible for the enforcement of health and safety precautions, the investigation of accident reports and the protec- tion of women and young persons employed in industry. The movement of labour to Borneo and countries in the South Seas continues and assistance is given to employers who take labourers out of the Colony in drawing up contracts on the lines of a model designed to fulfil the requirements of the International Labour Code. Towards the end of the year a

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