CHAPTER 7

INTERNATIONAL LABOUR AFFAIRS

International Instruments Setting Out Labour Standards

7.1 The international labour Conventions set by the International Labour Organization(ILO) prescribe standards for member States. Other international instruments touching on labour standards, albeit to a much smaller extent, include the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

7.2 A comprehensive set of labour legislation and administrative measures are in place to enable the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to give effect to internationally accepted standards. Through improvements to labour legislation and administrative measures, the HKSAR maintains a level of labour standards broadly equivalent to those of neighbouring countries with similar economic development as well as social and cultural backgrounds.

7.3 In accordance with the Basic Law, the provisions of the international labour Conventions as applied to Hong Kong before the return of sovereignty shall remain in force and shall be implemented through the laws of the HKSAR. As at the end of 2002, the HKSAR applied 41 international labour Conventions, with or without modification. The 41 international labour Conventions applied in the HKSAR are listed in Figure 7.1.

Participation in the Activities of the ILO

7.4 The HKSAR may participate in the activites of the ILO, either as members of the delegations of the People's Republic of China or, for activities which are not limited to States, on its own using the name 'Hong Kong, China'.

7.5 In 2002, apart from attending the International Labour Conference held in Geneva, representatives from the HKSAR also took part in two ILO regional meetings/seminars.

Contacts with Other Labour Administrations

7.6 Delegations of labour administrators in the Mainland and the Macao Special Administrative Region visited the Labour Department separately in 2002. The Commissioner for Labour also led a delegation to visit labour administrations in the Guangdong Province. During the visits, the department exchanged views and experience with our counterparts on labour issues such as employment policy, vocational training, labour relations, employees' compensation, occupational safety and health etc. These visits also strengthened mutual cooperation. Besides, the Deputy Commissioner for Labour led delegations and delivered a speech in the 2002 China International Forum on Work Safety held on 10 to 12 October 2002 in Beijing.

The Vice Minister of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of the State Council, Mr Zhang Xiaojian(centre), shared his experience in promoting employment in the Mainland with Labour Department officers.

The Commissioner for Labour, Mrs Pamela Tan, led a delegation to visit labour administrations in Guangdong Province. She was received by Mr Fang Chaogui (ninth from right), the Director of Guangdong Province Labour and Social Security Bureau.

Deputy Commissioner for Labour, Mr Fred Ting (centre in the front row) meeting the Director General, Dr Timothy Walker (second from left in the front row) and the Director of Field Operations, Dr Adrian Ellis (second from right in the front row) of the Health and Safety Executive of the United Kingdom.

Deputy Commissioner for Labour, Mr Fred Ting introducing the occupational safety and health performance in Hong Kong at the 2002 China International Forum on Work Safety held in Beijing.

7.7 Major ILO activities participated and contacts with other labour administrations are listed in Figure 7.2.