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(8) LEGISLATION IS BEING PREPARED TO EXTEND THE PRESENT MINIMUM AGE OF EMPLOYMENT (1,E AGE 14) IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS TO THE NON-INDUSTRIAL SECTOR AS FROM SEPTEMBER 1979, AND, AS FROM SEPTEMBER 1980, TO RAISE THE MINIMUM AGE TO 15, UNLESS THE CHILD HAS ALREADY COMPLETED THREE YEARS OF SECONDARY EDUCATION. AS IN
BRITAIN, PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT IN LIGHT NON-INDUSTRIAL WORK WILL BE
PERMITTED. THIS IS RELATED TO THE EXTENSION OF COMPULSORY EDUCATION UP TO FORM 111.
THE MACHINERY FOR ENFORCING THE LAW CONTROLLING THE EMPLOYMENT
OF YOUNG PEOPLE IS THE LABOUR INSPECTORATE WHICH HAS AN
ESTABLISHMENT OF 141. THE INSPECTORATE IS TO BE SUBSTANTIALLY
EXPANDED TO ENFORCE THE NEW LEGISLATION.
(9) THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR THE ILLEGAL EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS IS HONG KONG DOLLARS 10,000 (SINCE MAY 1979). THE AVERAGE FINE PER CHILD EMPLOYED ILLEGALLY HAS BEEN
RISING CONSISTENTLY:
1978 H.K.DOLLARS 931
1977
885
1976
461
1975
1974
#
1)
290
225
THE CHIEF JUSTICE AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ARE FIRMLY OPPOSED TO
THE IDEA OF A STATUTORY MINIMUM FINE ON GROUNDS OF PRINCIPLE SINCE
CASES DIFFER SO GREATLY, AND THERE IS A REAL RISK THAT A HIGH
MINIMUM FINE COULD RESULT IN MAGISTRATES BEING RELUCTANT TO
CONVICT IN CASES OF A LESS HEINOUS NATURE.
LETTER OF 2 MAY 1977 TO LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS.
(10) I AM NOT AWARE OF ANY SUCH PROPOSALS.
MACLEHOSE
FILES HK & GD (6) OLA
PS/LORD CORONWI ROBERTS
MR CORTAZZI MR MURRAY
PLEASE REFER TO MY
COPIES TO
HONG KONG GOVERNMENT OFFICE
6 GRAFTON STREET, W1
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