DRAFT ANSWER TO PO by Mr.
There is no slavery in Hong Kong. But
I am aware of the tradition
declining
with the general change in social habits, and
as better employment opportunities are
offered elsewhere of employing young
persons in Chinese tea houses.
I know of no recent labour Department
survey, except that as a matter of routine
there is a twice-yearly survey of the
survey
employees of tea houses. There was in August
^
a special campaign mounted against the
unlawful employment in industry of children
under 14. As a result, prosecutions against
the proprietors of 293 undertakings were
mcunted, and law enforcement measures will
continue to be vigorously pursued.
The Hong Kong Government shares my own
concern that there should be control over the
employment of children. But effective
control is by no means easy at a time of much
business activity and, often in family
businesses, especially hawker families.