Labour Department Annual Report 2004
Chapter 1: Highlights of the Year 2004 Chapter 2: The Labour Department Chapter 3: Labour Relations Chapter 4: Safety and Health at Work Chapter 5: Employment Services Chapter 6: Employee Rights and Benefit Chapter 7: International Labour Affairs Figures and Charts

 

CHAPTER 7
INTERNATIONAL LABOUR AFFAIRS

International Instruments Setting Out Labour Standards
7.1

International Labour Conventions set by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) prescribe relevant labour standards for member states. Other international instruments, including the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, also touch on labour standards, albeit to a much smaller extent.
   
7.2

A comprehensive set of labour legislation and administrative measures are in place in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) to enable the Government to implement internationally accepted labour standards. Through continuous 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 2004, 41 International Labour Conventions were applied to the HKSAR, with or without modification. (Figure 7.1)
   
Participation in the Activities of the ILO
7.4 The HKSAR may participate in the activities of the ILO, either as a member of the delegation 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 2004, apart from the 92nd Session of the International Labour Conference held in Geneva, representatives from the HKSAR also participated in a number of other ILO activities. (Figure 7.2)
 
Contacts with Other Labour Administrations
7.6 Delegations of labour administrators from the Mainland and overseas countries visited the Labour Department in 2004. The department also sent study missions to different provinces in the Mainland and overseas countries such as Australia, New Zealand, UK, Ireland, Sweden, Norway, USA, Canada etc. Apart from strengthening mutual cooperation, these visits provided opportunities for the department to exchange views and experience with our counterparts on various labour issues.
 
The ILO Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Mr Yasuyuki Nodera (third from left in the left row), meeting with the Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour (Labour), Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, Members of the Labour Advisory Board and other officials of the Labour Department during his visit to the HKSAR. The ILO Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific, Mr Yasuyuki Nodera (third from left in the left row), meeting with the Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour (Labour), Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, Members of the Labour Advisory Board and other officials of the Labour Department during his visit to the HKSAR.
 
A 6-member delegation led by the Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of the State Council, Ms Zhang Yali (sixth from left), visiting the Labour Department in October 2004. A 6-member delegation led by the Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security of the State Council, Ms Zhang Yali (sixth from left), visiting the Labour Department in October 2004.