Page 15 - Preservation for the Documentation of Chinese Christianity

LABOUR

HONG KONG CHRISTIAN INDUSTRIAL COMMITTEE

Dr. L.K. Ding, Chairman
Rev. Abraham Sen, Vice-Chairman
Mr. Spencer Gung, Hon. Treasurer
Mr. Cheng Ching Fai, Hon. Secretary
Rev. Eugene Gia
Rev. Tsang Kin On
Miss Chan Hung Yee
Miss Wong Shuk Yee
Mr. Joel McClellan
Dr. William D. Hackett
Mr. Leung Kin Sun
Mr. Chow Yau Sun

Hong Kong was the focus of much well-wish attention in the year as Chinese and British officials repeatedly
offered assurances of their interest in maintaining the status quo. This situation puts Hong Kong workers in a
position of relative power in their economic struggle because the m aintenance of the status quo requires the
compliance of the low-income m ajority. At the same time, Hong Kong industry came under increasing protect-
ionist pressure from our western trading partners. This has made it all the more necessary that working men and
women participate in labour-management relations to protect their rights. In 1977-78, workers did precisely
that. We believe we can claim with justification that we have facilitated the process and enabled many workers
to achieve a more just deal with their employers.

In the year 1977-8, a major battle was fought on legislation to provide for annual one-week paid leave to all
worker. This committee took a stand basically similar to the government’on this issue, against all-out attack by

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many employers group. The legislation was passed and has already taken effect. Our proposal for social
insurance for old-age and sickness which we reported in the last annual report appeared in a Government green
paper for public debate. Our third suggestion covering unem ploym ent has not.
Voluntary agencies and churches have shown interest and openness toward our programme. We have pledged
ourselves to working with any group comm itted to the emphasis of worker's right and justice. This pheno-
m enon, plus our desire to root the gospel among the working class, has propelled us to begin a process of
decentralizing our work and of making our skills and programme transferable.

The following is a factual description of our programme in 1977-78.

Labour Education
Done under the name of Labour Education Centre, 65 evening courses, as compared with 54 in 1976-7, were
offered on organizing skill, labour legislation, industrial safety, social sciences and religion. The courses vary
from 4 to 13 weekly sessions, with an enrolement per course of between 15 to 50. Most instructors were
volunteers from the professions and research institutes. But certain history and sociology courses were led by
worker-instructors. In addition, a number of camps and seminars wre organized, largely under the leadership of
worker volunteers.

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