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Mr S W Stockwell Room 926
Regent Palace Hotel Glass House Street LONDON W1A 4BZ
HKK 21012 RECEIVED IN REGISTANT NO. 51 26 SEP 1979
DESK OFFICER
033-3888
2it
صلا
25 September 1979
Thank you for your letter.
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2x30
I have now read the article in "Time" magazine and I can under- stand your concern. However, I notice that the article makes only a passing reference to Hong Kong and in just four lines is unable to give full credit for the determined efforts which the Government of Hong Kong have made in recent years to eradicate child labour.
At present it is unlawful in Hong Kong to employ children under the age of 14 in industrial undertakings or dangerous trades. New legislation enacted very recently will enable that prohibi- tion to be extended to the full-time employment of children in non-industrial undertakings (e.g. restaurants). The age limit was raised to 14 with effect from 1 September this year and 15 from 1 September 1980, except for those children who have already completed six years of primary and three years of secondary education.
Investigations into and prosecutions resulting from the illegal employment of children reveal that in recent years fewer than 20% of factories in Hong Kong are involved, and that the numbers of children involved are only a tiny proportion of those in the corresponding age groups.
P I Webb
Hong Kong and General Department