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(e) Rest days: one day a week in Hong Kong.
Similar in nearly all other countries.
This information reveals that conditions in Hong Kong are as good as and occasionally better than those in some other countries except in respect of maximum hours a day and a month where it is below the general standard. As you are aware from discussions here consideration is being given to how this situation can be improved. If this should require legislation, it would be introduced into the Legislative Council of Hong Kong.
40 As far as Hong Kong is concerned, the conditions given in paragraph 2 also apply to young persons of either sex over age of 16 and below age of 18. The conditions in Hong Kong for young persons of either sex over age 14 and below age 16 are:-
(a) 9 hours
50
(b) 8 hours and 48 hours
(e) 1 hour after five hours continuous work
(a) no overtime allowed
(e) one day a week
Comparative statistics for other countries are not available for young persons of either group. The number of young persons employed in Hong Kong industry is relatively small. They totalled only 6,333 out of an industrial working force of 424,155 at the end of December 1966. No difficulties are experienced generally in enforcing legislation covering their conditions of employment. This legislation does not cover young persons employed in commerce, shops, small trading establishments, etc.
6. Labour legislation in Hong Kong is strictly enforced. I am not in a position to comment on the extent to which legislation in neighbouring countries is enforced but allegations are sometimes made locally that elsewhere the enforcing agencies are less effective.
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