FCO_49_622_PLANNING_PAPER_ON_HONG_KONG_1976 — Page 40

26.

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These agreed programmes must include a

programme of labour legislation. In the absence of a

normal trades union movement there is a particular

obligation on the Hong Kong Government to safeguard the

position of wage earners by providing progressive labour

legislation, with a strong Commissioner of Labour's

office and effective conciliation and factory inspectorate

services. The objective should be to achieve conditions

comparable to the best Asian equivalent, (e.g. Singapore)

within five years.

This should include better provision

for rest days and statutory holidays and the introduction

of compulsory holidays with pay, the prohibition of

employment of people under 15 years of age (as soon as

there are assisted secondary school places for all by

1980), wider coverage by safety regulations, and improved

sickness benefit and redundancy payments. The absence

of statutory hours of work or provision for overtime

are also particular subjects of criticism. The programme

must also ensure steady progress in the application of

I.L.O. conventions.

27.

Significant progress has been made in labour

But it is essential to

legislation in recent years.

be satisfied that this will continue along the lines and

within the time-scale suggested above, because progress

in trades unionism as it is known in the United Kingdom

is most unlikely. The trades union movement is small,

Such

politically orientated and heavily fragmentedge 4004203

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membership as in independent of the main groups of

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