ENG-1961 — Page 69

EMPLOYMENT

45

the registration of three others was cancelled at their own request. The 312 unions consisted of 235 workers' unions with a total declared membership of 216,559, 64 organizations of merchants or employers with a declared membership of 10,429 and 13 mixed organizations with a total membership of 6,670.

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

Trade unions. With few exceptions, all trade unions are affiliated to, or associated with, one of two local federations which bear allegiance to opposing political groups. Divided politically, and further splintered along ethnic and lingual lines, their number has grown beyond practical needs and diverging loyalties have prevented those with common interests from amalgamating into effective organizations. On at least two occasions during the year, a ready settlement of comparatively serious disputes was impeded by this union rivalry. Ignorance of the principles underlying the trade union movement makes it difficult to improve this structure.

The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions, the FTU, supports the Chinese People's Republic. Most of the members of its 63 affiliated unions are concentrated in shipyards, textile mills and public utilities, or are seafarers. A further 28 member-unions, nominally independent, align themselves with the FTU and take part in its activities. Little was heard from the Federation through- out the year, except for its strong criticism both of the United States' proposed restrictions on the import of Hong Kong textiles and of an extension of the agreement covering cotton exports to Britain. As in previous years, no attempt was made to confine welfare benefits to members of affiliated unions and relief was offered without discrimination to the victims of a serious fire which devastated a large area of a squatter settlement in January. The foundations were laid of an impressive workers' club at Ma Tau Chung, estimated to cost two million dollars, which has been designed to accommodate a clinic, maternity hospital, library, theatre, canteen, and other welfare and recreational facilities.

The other union federation, the Hong Kong and Kowloon Trades Union Council, sympathizes with the policies of the Taiwan Government. Most of the members of its 66 affiliated unions and of the 55 nominally independent unions, which generally support