ENG-1968 — Page 43

EMPLOYMENT

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and preserved fruits, the burning of coral and sea-shells for lime, brick-manufacture, and boat building and repairing.

There are at present some 30,000 Chinese working in the United Kingdom, most of whom are from the New Territories. Remittances from these persons are of great importance to the economy of the New Territories. During the year under review such remittances in postal and money orders were estimated to be $31.3 million.

Although no current figures on unemployment are available, the increase in the number of people employed in registered and recorded factories and industrial undertakings since 1966 suggests that the number out of work at the end of the year was not materially different from the position in 1966 when, in the by-census, 22,930 persons claimed to be unemployed, and 31,450 stated they were looking for their first jobs. This unexpectedly high figure was due to the by-census taking place in August, just after the end of the school year.

As most countries maintain strict control over the entry of foreign nationals seeking employment, opportunities overseas for Hong Kong Chinese are limited. As Hong Kong itself is a good labour market, it is not easy to recruit workers for employment abroad unless the wages offered are particularly attractive. Prior to November 1, 1965, when the Contracts for Overseas Employ- ment Ordinance came into force, manual workers recruited for employment outside Hong Kong were subject only to administra- tive control. Since that date this ordinance has given legislative effect to relevant International Labour Conventions and requires every overseas contract for a manual worker to be in writing and signed by the employer or person acting on his behalf and the worker. The contract must be presented for attestation by the Commissioner of Labour before the worker leaves Hong Kong. The ordinance does not apply to anyone who is a crew member of a ship or aircraft or who holds an employment voucher issued under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962 or who has been granted admission, on a permanent basis, to an overseas territory. The maximum period of service which may be stipulated in any such contract must not exceed two years if the worker is unaccompanied by his family or three years if the worker is so accompanied. On the expiry of the original contract, a worker may enter into a