Chapter 7 International Labour Affairs

International Labour Conventions set by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) prescribe relevant labour standards for member states. As at year-end, 41 International Labour Conventions were applied to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), with or without modification (Figure 7.1), notwithstanding that Hong Kong is neither a sovereign entity nor an ILO member. 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.

A comprehensive set of labour legislation and administrative measures are in place in the HKSAR to enable the Government to implement internationally accepted labour standards. Through continuous improvements to labour legislation and administrative measures, HKSAR maintains a level of labour standards broadly equivalent to those of neighbouring places with similar economic development as well as social and cultural background.

HKSAR may participate in the activities of ILO, either as part 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".

In 2010, the Labour Department continued to participate actively in activities organised by ILO to keep abreast of the latest development of international labour matters. In the year, representatives from HKSAR participated in the 99th Session of the International Labour Conference held in Geneva, Switzerland. (Figure 7.2)

Delegations of labour administrators from the Mainland and other places visited the Labour Department in the year. The department also sent study missions to different provinces in the Mainland and overseas countries such as Australia and Ireland. Apart from strengthening mutual cooperation, these visits provided opportunities for representatives of the department to exchange views and experience with its counterparts on various labour issues.