CONFIDENTIAL
Flag B
ба
•
to give notice of impending visits by inspectors. None of these assertions was substantiated. In fact, the programme produced
little evidence of child labour in industrial establishments: there
were two scenes only of children at work in factories. It was not said that these children were below the age of 14, the legal limit
for employment in such establishments. On the other hand, there were scenes of young children employed in non-industrial establish- ments, such as restaurants, and also of children doing "out-work"
at home. There is no limit at present on the age of children who may be employed in non-industrial establishments. The programme did bring out the point, about which we have been concerned for some time, that the fines imposed by the courts in Hong Kong on employers infringing the child labour regulations are too low. The Hong Kong authorities have undertaken to remedy this loophole.
4. Most, if not all, of the points raised in the Granada TV programme had been anticipated in 14 Parliamentary Questions put down by Mr Robert Parry Mp and answered by Mr Luard on 8 December. Lord Goronwy-Roberts agreed that enquiries arising from the programme might be answered by referring to Mr Luard's replies.
5. I submit a draft reply to Mr Rodgers, which is largely based on Lord Goronwy-Roberts' letter to Mr Dempsey. Incidentally,
Mr Rodgers visited Hong Kong in late 1975 when, as Minister of State for Defence, he conducted the negotiations for the new Defence Costs Agreement that came into force last year.
14 March 1977
Cc:
PS/Mr Luard
OLA
J A
J.a. B. Stut.
Stewart
Hong Kong Department
Goronwy - Roberts
1573
2
CONFIDENTIAL