East Asia Textile Mills (Hansard, 20 December 1966)

§ 10. Mr. Rankin
asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will inquire and report into the reasons which led to the dismissal of Chung Hon Loong from employment at the East Asia Textile Mills in Hong Kong, which action had precipitated a strike of those employed at the Mills; and what action he proposes to take in the matter.

§ Mr. Frederick Lee
Mr. Chung has been dismissed on two occasions: the first on 4th November, when he walked out of the factory after his request for a day's sick leave had been refused; the second on 13th November after an assault on a foreman.
Following the first dismissal a dispute arose in the factory as to the terms of his reinstatement. This culminated in a strike being called on 11th November. Subsequently nine other workers were discharged for their part in the dispute.
On 22nd November the men's union and the management agreed to conciliation by the Labour Department. Since then there have been ten meetings between the two sides. The most recent of them took place this morning. I have no news of the outcome.

§ Mr. Rankin
Is my right hon. Friend not aware that the conditions against which Mr. Chung and other textile workers are protesting were described by the secretary of the International Federation of Textile and Garment Workers as sufficient to make him feel ashamed that he was an Englishman? Does my right hon. Friend take cognisance of that fact and other matters in connection with this strike when he seeks to put the blame on Mr. Chung and his fellow workers?

§ Mr. Lee
I was not aware that I tried to put any blame on Mr. Chung. As I have said, 10 meetings have taken place. One, which took place the day before yesterday, got very near to settlement and I am hoping that the one which took place this morning will actually achieve that aim.

§ Mr. A. Royle
Would not the Minister agree that the conditions of textile workers in many of the factories in Hong Kong are of as high a standard as anywhere in the world? Will he also agree that this was a private industrial matter and not one in which the Government could intervene?

§ Mr. Lee
It goes beyond that. When I was in Hong Kong, I discussed the matter with the Labour Commissioner. As I have said in my Answer, they are doing everything possible to be of assistance in this matter. In one or two respects I would like to see more progress in Hong 'Kong, especially in the provisions for 'women and young people.