GR 125
PRIORITY CYPHER/CAT A
CONFIDENTIAL
26
ว
51
FM HONG KONG 281050Z
2 8 MAR 1977
CONFIDENTIAL
HICK210/1
TO PRIORITY F C O TELNO 324 OF 28 MARCH.
YOUR TELNO 215 OF 23 MARCH:
CHILD LABOUR.
TOP COP
&
1201
WE ARE, AS YOU KNOW, VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE NEED TO WIPE OUT CHILD LABOUR AND THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT PROSECUTES ANY BREACHES OF THE LAW GOVERNING THE EMPLOYMENT OF YOUNG PERSONS WHICH ARE DISCOVERED.
2. THERE HAS BEEN SOME INCREASE IN THE AVERAGE LEVEL OF FINES IMPOSED FOR EMPLOYMENT OF UNDER AGE PERSONS IN INDUSTRY. IN 1976 THERE WERE 326 CONVICTIONS, FOR WHICH THE AVERAGE FINE WAS HONG KONG DOLLARS 543. IN 1977 THERE HAVE SO FAR BEEN 83 CONVICTIONS FOR THIS OFFENCE WITH AN AVERAGE FINE OF HONG KONG
DOLLARS 7440
3. IT IS PROPOSED TO AMEND THE RELEVANT REGULATIONS TO DOUBLE
THE MAXIMUM FINE FOR THIS OFFENCE FROM HONG KONG DOLLARS 5,000 TO
HONG KONG DOLLARS 10,000.
4. THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR HAS BEEN ASKED TO PROVIDE SUITABLE TEST CASES IN WHICH CROWN COUNSEL WILL PROSECUTE IN AN EFFORT TO PERSUADE THE COURTS TO RAISE THE GENERAL LEVEL OF PUNISHMENT.
MACLEHOSE
FILES
HKD
OLA
MR CORTAZZI
COPIES то
MR LIPSEY, PRIVATE OFFICE
Frow Roo drafts
in
@hamissiven under.
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29 March to