HKGD.
Foreign and Commonwealth Office
London SW1A 2AH
No thompson W. Chatel
27/60
HKK 210/1
OCT 1977 3 1957 Á Í
INVE
Thank you for your letter of 6 October bringing to my
attention the Resolution of your Union's Annual Conference
concerning child labour in Hong Kong.
PA
Both I and the Government of Hong Kong share your
concern over the employment of children in Hong Kong. The
Colony already has legislation prohibiting the employment of
children under the age of 15 in industrial undertakings. On
5 October, at the opening of the Hong Kong Legislative Council,
the Governor announced that this legislation would be extended
to make it illegal to employ children under 15 in non-.
industrial undertakings as well.
the
In the same speech the Governor announced plans for
the introduction of compulsory free education for all children
up to their 15th birthday. With effect from September 1978, a free secondary school place will be made available to every
child leaving primary school. The new measure will therefore
be fully in operation by September 1980 and will, I hope,
significantly reduce the incidence of illegal employment of
children.
R Grantham Esq
/I.am,
Titen