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LABOUR MATTERS
7. CHILD LABOUR IN HONG KONG
I
I would refer to the replies that my hon. Friend the Parliametary Under Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs- gave to my hon. Friend the member for Liverpool, Scotland Exchange Divison, Mr Parry, on 8 December. The Hong Kong Government are committed to the elimination of illegal employment of children below the age of 14 and to the abolition of overtime working for young persons aged 16 and 17 by four annual stages up to the end of 1979.
8.
LABOUR CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG
There has been considerable progress in recent years and the Hong Kong Government has set itself a target of achieving a level of legislation governing safety, health and conditions of employment at least broadly equivalent to the best in Asian countries neighbouring Hong Kong whose stage of economic development and social and cultural background are similar to Hong Kong's: It is hoped to achieve this within a period of about
four years.
9. TRADE UNION ACTIVITIES
It is the Hong Kong Government's policy, supported by Her Majesty's Government, to encourage the development and growth of trade unions in Hong Kong.
10. ILO CONVENTIONS
It is the policy of the Hong Kong Government, supported by Her Majesty's Government, to improve and develop its application of ILO Conventions to the fullest extent possible. As my right hon. Friend, the Prime Minister, informed my hon. Friend the member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne East (Mr Mike Thomas) on 2 December last, considerable progress was made in the last year. It is expected that improvements will be made in respect of four Conventions within the next 12 months.
/ PROFESSOR TURNER'S