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(d) Raising the maximum fine for illegal employment of children
The maximum fine for illegally employing children was increased from HK$ 5,000 to HK$ 10,000 in 1977. The general level of fines for such offences has tended to increase over the last few years and there have been several cases in which employers were fined over HK$5,000. Statistics showing the gradually increasing number of labour inspections and the level of fines for child employment offences between 1972 and 1979 are given in Appendix II.
8.
e) Issuing new juvenile identity cards
The phased issue of new Juvenile Identity Cards to children as they reach the age of 11 and adult Identity Cards once they reach the age of 18 began in November 1973 and was completed in November 1978. The new Juvenile Identity Card differs from the old one and shows the child's photograph and the date of birth. It helps to prevent children under the age of 14 from obtaining employment by using other persons identity cards and thus facilitates the enforcement of the law by labour inspectors as they can readily verify the age of suspected underage children found at places of work.
9.
f) Improving social services
Hong Kong has made marked progress in various social services in the past decade. The major ones which help to eliminate child labour are:
(1)
Social security
The introduction of a non-contributory Public Assistance Scheme in 1971 guarantees everyone a basic standard of living. Under the scheme any family is entitled to assistance if its total income falls below a certain level. Additional grants are also given to meet other essential expenses such as rent, school fees and textbooks, domestic removals, special diets and burial expenses. There is therefore strictly speaking no longer a need for children to work in order to supplement family income, although undoubtedly the additional income brought in by a child would enable a family to enjoy a slightly higher standard of living.
G.F. 324
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