ENG-1957 — Page 63

OCCUPATIONS, WAGES AND LABOUR ORGANIZATION

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The Food and Fuel Index is based on the prices of specific quantities of ten items of common consumption. Its publica- tion was discontinued at the end of July after appropriate notice had been given in the Government Gazette and it had been ascertained that employers paying cost of living allow- ance in addition to a basic wage were all using the Retail Price Index for calculation of the allowance. The Retail Price Index covers a wider range of commodities and services, and is weighted according to a budgetary survey carried out in 1948. The base of 100 is for March 1947, and although the expenditure pattern used for weighting is that of the artisan and white-collar worker, the Index gives a fair reflection of general changes in the cost of living.

LABOUR ADMINISTRATION

The Government's responsibilities in labour matters are dealt with by the Labour Department and the Registry of Trade Unions.

Labour Department. The Commissioner of Labour is the principal adviser to the Government on all matters con- nected with labour and industrial relations. He is ex-officio Chairman of the Labour Advisory Board, on which both employers and employed are represented, and which is consulted on all legislative matters affecting labour. The Commissioner is also Chairman of the Standing Committee on Technical Education and Vocational Training, an ex- officio member of the Port Committee and a member of the Kwun Tong Advisory Committee concerned with the provi- sion of industrial sites. Concurrently he is Commissioner of Mines. The registration of trade unions, formerly a function of the Labour Department, has been undertaken by the Registrar of Trade Unions since December 1954, when a separate department was set up for this purpose.

The Labour Department is responsible for the initial preparation of all labour legislation, and keeps under review the legislative and administrative arrangements for giving