Employment of
children
in 24-hour
convenience stores
Question No.2-
Reply by the Hon, R.G.B. Bridge, OBE, JP, Secretary for Education & Manpower
to a question by the Hon. CHAN Ying-lua in the Legislative Council on 25 November 1987 2. Mr. CHAN-YING-LUN asked (in Cantonese):
on
Will` Government inform this Council whether it is aware that school age teenagers employed
in night shift 24-hour convenience stores are exposed to bad habits and triad influences, and whether it has, taken steps to enforce, in respect
convenience
the stores, Employment of Children Regulations which lay down the conditions for the' employment of children between the ages of 13 to 15 years?
of
SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND
MANPOWER:
Yes, Sir, the Government does realise that
young teenagers on night shift could be exposed to bad
influences. That is one reason why we
have
the
Employment of Children Regulations.
While the managements of convenience
stores
are generally law-abiding, the Commissioner of Police
has told me that, inevitably, some convenience stores
do attract bad
intimidation and robbery. Police officers on patrol
pay particular
targets
for
elements and are
to attention
such stores at night.
They keep in close touch with the staff and frequently
check the customers.