CONFIDENTIAL
CYPHER/CAT A
IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
TEL NUMBER 142
1
TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
DATE 12 FEBRUARY 1969
CONFIDENT I AL
REccIVES IN ARCHIVES No.31
YOUR TELEGRAM 113:PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION,
1 3 FEB 1969
HKK SY IS
THE QUESTION AS RECEIVED HERE REFERS TO #1 AMENDING THE LABOUR
LAWS SO AS TO PERMIT THE EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS
IN TEXTILE FACTORIES'
2. WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS ARE OF COURSE ALREADY PERMITTED TO
WORK IN TEXTILE AND OTHER FACTORIES PROVIDED THEY ARE EMPLOYED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAK INGS
ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS, SO THAT NO AMENDMENT IS NECESSARY ON
THIS SCORE.
3. HOWEVER, MR THORNTON IS PRESUMABLY REFERRING TO NIGHT WORK
IN FACTORIES. THIS IS PROHIBITED UNDER THE FACTORIES AND
INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAK INGS REGULATIONS, BUT SECTION 7(4) OF THE
ORDINANCE AUTHOR IZES THE COMMISSIONER OF LABOUR TO EXEMPT
ANY INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKING FROM COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS.
THE NEED FOR AMENDMENT TO THE LAW DOES NOT THEREFORE ARISE IN
THIS CASE EITHER.
12
4. THE SUBJECT OF NIGHT WORK FOR WOMEN WAS RAISED BY DR S.Y. CHUNG
IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 29TH NOVEMBER 1967. IT WAS RAISED
SUBSEQUENTLY IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON 14TH FEBRUARY 1968
BY DR S.Y. CHUNG AND MR DICKSON LEACH, AND AGA IN BY THE LATTER
CURING THE BUDGET DEBATE ON 14TH MARCH 1968.
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CONFIDENTIAL
/5. IN APRIL