North Pacific Trade Union Forum took place on February 12-13,1998 in Tokyo, attended by representatives of American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Chinese Federation of Labor(CFL), Hong Kong & Kowloon Trade Union Council (HKTUC), Hong Kong Confederation of Trade Unions (HKCTU), Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC-RENGO) Federation of Korean Trade Unions (FKTU), and ICFTU-APRO. The Forum was hosted by Japanese Trade Union Confederation (JTUC-RENGO).

On February 12, the delegates visited the Ministry of Labor and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and exchanged opinions with senior officials on the economic situation in respective countries and in Asia as a whole. In the evening of the same day, delegates attended the first mass rally of 1998 Spring Struggle for a Better Living organized by Rengo to express their solidarity with the Japanese workers. February 13, the delegates had a full day meeting at Rengo Head Office. The meeting was presided by President Washio of Rengo. Participants reported to the meeting the economic and political situations of their respective countries and exchanged view on matters of common concern.

The delegates confirmed that what is of the urgent importance at present is the overcoming of the current Asian economic crisis, pointed out the possible danger of its subsequent serious impact on world economy as a whole, and asserted that no satisfactory solution can be expected unless voice of workers is fully taken into consideration in coping with the crisis. The crisis is a typical symptom of the progress of globalization and reflects the growing interdependency among Asian countries as well as that between the Asian economy and the world economy.

In the course of the discussion, the delegates expressed special concern on the particular situation in Korea, Hong Kong, and the trade union response to the globalization.

Korea
The delegates welcome the recent political change and subsequent progress made about the trade union rights of workers, and expressed support to Korean workers fighting for employment, democracy, freedom of association and the establishment of fair society.

The delegates also expressed sincere hope that the efforts of Korean trade union movement and the new government to solve actual difficulties would bring about concrete positive results in very near future. As to the agreement between Korean government and IMF, the delegates agree to request to Korean Government and IMF, as well as to the main financiers of IMF, especially to the Governments of United States and Japan, that IMF should continue to consult with trade unions with a view to minimize negative social and employment effects of the agreement.

Particularly, the delegates expressed their grave concern on the danger of massive unemployment to be created by the introduction of collective dismissal for economic reason and by the introduction of dispatched worker system, and demand to the Korean Government and employers to take every possible measure to minimize unemployment.

Hong Kong
The delegates expressed serious concerns about the frontal attack by the Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government on the labor rights and security in Hong Kong after the hand-over of sovereignty in July 1997. They were particularly concerned that the SAR Government has suspended several labor laws. The delegates fully support trade unions in Hong Kong to file a complaint to the ILO regarding the violation of labor rights in Hong Kong.

The delegates were also concerned about the setback of democratization in Hong Kong. The first SAR Legislative Council election will be held in this May, with only 20 out of 60 seats being directly elected by Hong Kong citizens. The delegates believe that the right to vote is as important as the right to live. Only with full democracy, can there be concrete and substantive securities for working class.

Lastly, the delegates agreed that all the unions of ICFTU and ICFTU-APRO should continue to support HKTUC and HKCTU, and remain vigilant to take concrete actions in case of violation of fundamental trade union and human rights in Hong Kong.

The Trade Union Response to Globalization
The delegates pointed out ever glowing effect of globalization. The actual economic and currency problems in Asia demonstrated again the very strong mutual economic interdependence among Asian countries, as well as with world economy. With this respect, the delegates agreed on the following points;

1. Delegates insisted the need for quick recovery of economic crises faced by several Asian countries, and the importance to establish social security system in these countries.

2. As to the Asian situation, the delegates noted the demand of Rengo to Japanese Government about the urgent necessity of economic recovery of Japan through the reduction in income taxes and the expansion of domestic consumption. This is necessary not only for Japanese workers but also to accelerate economic recovery of other Asian countries.

3. Delegates also agreed on the need to further strengthen regional and international trade union solidarity in the face of challenge of globalization of economic activities. In this respect, the delegates recognize that the role of ICFTU, ICFTU-APRO, and ITSs is vital.

4. It was also noted that the important role that should be assumed by such international institutions as WTO, IMF and ILO in globalization. The trade union's consultation with these institutions at regional and international level is very important. The delegates support the current activities of ICFTU, ICFTU-APRO and their affiliates in this direction and hope that these activities will be further encouraged.

This statement was adopted unanimously at the end of the discussion of the Forum on February 13, 1998, and signed by:

• Mr. Phil Fishman, Assistant Director, International Affairs, AFL-CIO
  
• Mr. Kuo Yao-tsing, Standing Director, CFL
  
• Mr. Noh Jin-kwi, Senior Director, Policy & Planning Office, FKTU
  
• Mr. Lee Kwok Keung, President, HKTUC
  
• Mr. Lau Chin Shek, Chairman, HKCTU
  
• Mr. Etsuya WASHIO, President, JTUC-Rengo
  (signatures in alphabetical order of names of organizations)

Towards the solution of the Northern Territory within 20th century

At an informal top-level conference between Japan and Russian Federation last November they reached an agreement about the Northern Territory that they would do the best to conclude a peace treaty by the year of 2000 based on the Tokyo Declaration. In order to make this historical agreement as significant as possible, a committee for the return of the Northern Territory, which Rengo has been taking part in, held a conference in Tokyo on 7 February and called for the public awareness of the return.