ENG-1972 — Page 67

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Employment

In recent years there have been a number of significant developments in the field of labour legislation in Hong Kong all aimed at the improvement of working conditions and the welfare of workers.

In the last five years no less than 41 items of labour legislation have been passed. These include maternity protection for women and four rest-days a month for most employees. In 1972 a minor amendment was made to the Employment Ordinance concerning the procedure for the apprehension of absconding employers. A new set of safety regulations, on electrolytic chromium processes was also introduced. An important contribution to the improvement of labour-management relations will be made by the Labour Tribunal Ordinance which, when brought into operation early in 1973, will provide an informal method of settling certain types of disputes involving claims of right between workers and employers.

The low level of unemployment has continued and average industrial wages have increased by 124 per cent since 1964. Meanwhile, the cost of living indices have risen by only 43 per cent. This means that, measured by real wages, standards of living have risen by about 56 per cent.

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The 1971 population census revealed a total working population of 1,582,849 in Hong Kong, of whom 1,049,989 were male and 532,860 female. The main distribu- tion of the work force was: manufacturing 677,498; services 312,173; commerce 208,604; construction and engineering 168,773; transport and communication 114,722; agriculture, forestry and fishing 62,975; public utilities 8,870; mining and quarrying 4,518; and other industries 24,716. - T

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In December 1972, the Labour Department had on record 21,386 industrial under- takings employing a total of 619,684 workers, an increase of 14,317 over the December 1971 figure. The largest section of the labour force, some 264,089 workers were engaged in weaving, spinning, knitting, and the manufacture of garments and made- up textile goods. The plastics industry remained the second largest employer. The demand for labour in the manufacturing industries continued to exceed the supply. Fuller details of the distribution of industrial undertakings and of people employed in them are given in Appendices 11 and 12.

The bulk of the industrial population is concentrated in the urban areas of Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and New Kowloon but there is increasing industrial develop- ment in the New Territories, particularly in the new township of Tsuen Wan. In December 1972, the Labour Department had on record 2,528 factories in the New Territories, with a labour force of 107,280. Although most workers are engaged in