4
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their turn for public housing. Since November 1977, a total of 2,625
people from 194 boats in the Yau Ma Ti typhoon shelter have been
rehoused. There remain about 539 boats in the typhoon shelter.
Public Order Ordinance
12. Under the Hong Kong Public Order Ordinance as it now stands, it is an offence for more than three people to gather together for almost any purpose without prior police permission. The sweeping nature of this Ordinance was brought out during demonstrations last year. Following
these demonstrations, the Hong Kong Attorney-General announced that
hose parts of the Ordinance dealing with public meetings and processions
would be reviewed. The review has now been nearly completed, and it is
expected that the Hong Kong Government will shortly introduce amendments
that will make clearer the definitions of what constitute public meetings
and processions, and that will introduce some relaxation of the rules
governing the holding of such meetings and processions.
Professor Turner's Report
13.
Professor Turner, the professor of industrial relations at Cambridge
University, was commissioned by the Hong Kong Government in 1977 to
write a detailed study of labour relations in Hong Kong. The report was initially expected to be ready by the end of 1977, but has been repeatedly delayed through illness, and because of Professor Turner's other pre-
ccupations. He has now submitted a number of drafts of his report to
the Hong Kong Government, though the final version is still not available. No decision has yet been taken on whether the report itself will be published, though we understand that Professor Turner himself intends to
publish his findings in an academic review.
Child Labour
14. The Hong Kong Government do not deny that the problem of child labour still exists in Hong Kong, but they are making determined efforts to end it. Legislation which came into effect on 1 September 1979 pro- hibited the employment of children in all sectors. It is also now compulsory for children to continue in full time education until the age of 14. The numbers of staff responsible for enforcing these laws has been increased, and the penalties for breaking the laws have been doubled.
/15.