CONFIDENTIAL
25
香港總督府
ViZ the firmay,
1
HK GD (64) HKGD advice phe.
Ice Minister.
GOVERNMENT HOUSE
HONG KONG
RECEN
REAR H⚫. 51
13th July 1977
19 JUL1977
HKK ZIE!
Thank you for your letter of 21
June about the level of fines for the illegal employment of children and the provision of school places for all children up to the age of fifteen.
2.
The Attorney General informs me that the practice is not to frame charges so as to produce a separate count in respect of each child found to be illegally employed. An employer is charged with employing a specified number of children on a particular day contrary to the law. In determining the level of fines, magistrates take into account the number of children involved.
3.
I entirely agree that our objectives will not be achieved simply by providing assisted places in junior secondary schools (i.e. up to 15) for all primary school leavers as from 1978. We have always recognized that if we are to ensure that all of the age group are actually in school and benefit from the places provided three additional measures are necessary:-
4.
a)
b)
c)
the age and identity of a young person must be capable of immediate proof through possession of an identity card. This has already been done.
The Director's present powers to enforce attendance of children in the 6-12 year age group must be extended progressively to all children up to 15.
Their employment must be prohibited, not only in industry as at present, but across the board.
In planning these measures we had the triple purpose of requiring children to have a proper education, eliminating conflicting financial inducements,
The Rt Hon The Lord Goronwy-Roberts,
Minister of State,
Foreign & Commonwealth Office