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6.
Thirdly, under Hong
Kong employment legislation,
there are no restrictions on hours of employment of young
persons
(15-17
years
old)
in
non-industrial
establishments. As the nature of employment in such
establishments is in general less strenuous than in
industrial undertakings, Hong Kong does not consider it
necessary to regulate the hours of young persons working
there.
7.
Fourthly, due to the presence of large numbers of
Vietnamese children seeking asylum in Hong Kong, many of whom are not accompanied by a parent or guardian, Hong Kong
needs a reservation to cover the relevant legislation and any inadequacy in provision of services which might
otherwise be challenged as being discriminatory. The reservation can be defended as a temporary measure to deal with a special situation.
8.
Fifthly, like. the UK, Hong Kong needs a
reservation to make it clear that legislation may in
certain circumstances deprive natural parents of their
parental status, for example on the adoption of a child.
9.
Finally, like the UK, Hong Kong needs a
reservation to cover the mixing of juvenile detainees with
young adult offenders. The reservation is similar to the
one extended to Hong Kong in respect of Articles 10.2 (b)
and 10.3 of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights.
10.
We attach a list of declarations and reservations
drafted to cover the above areas.