ENG-1958 — Page 33

REVIEW

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In the training of future technicians, managers and engineers for local industry the Hong Kong Technical College and the University of Hong Kong have long played their part. Towards the end of the year the University announced plans for the resump- tion of the training of electrical and mechanical, as well as civil, engineers. Enrolment at the Hong Kong Technical College, in its new and larger premises opened in November 1957, stood at 375 full-time and 6,063 part-time students in September 1958, an increase over the previous session of about 30 full-time and 631 part-time students. This represented an increase in overall enrol- ment of some 12% and it reflected the increasing demand for technical education arising from the rapid development of local industry. A noteworthy feature was the establishment of a textiles department to provide courses on textile technology.

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During a major debate on the state of the United Kingdom cotton industry on 30th June, Hong Kong working conditions came under criticism. The Government was already working on a draft Employment Bill, designed to improve many aspects of local conditions of employment, and the Paymaster General announced that Miss S. A. Ogilvie, O.B.E., Assistant Labour Adviser to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, would visit Hong Kong to discuss conditions of employment generally with the Government while this legislation was under consideration.

This official arrived in the Colony on 8th July and during her stay of twenty four days she visited more than fifty industrial undertakings, nine of them at night, varying from the largest cotton spinning mill in the Colony to small tenement workshops, and had full discussions with prominent local industrialists and trade union representatives. It was announced at the time of her departure from the Colony that, as a result of her visit, Miss Ogilvie had made a number of suggestions regarding the proposals already in draft, designed to effect a reduction in the hours which women and young persons were legally permitted to work.

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These proposals were designed to bring the law on the subject into line with current practice amongst the majority of the Colony's employers. The main aim was to restrict normal working hours, exclusive of overtime and intervals for meals and rest, to a maxi- mum of 10 in a day for all women and young persons, and to introduce a weekly rest day for them. As an interim measure