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Appendix 4.
General.
I should like, in conclusion, to make a few general observations in elaboration of those contained in the draft report. At the outset, let me say that I am as anxious as anyone else in this Colony to see the hard lot of some of the poor children in this Colony improved, and I am sure that all the Chinese here will do everything possible towards that end. But we must take facts as they exist, and not allow our sentiments to affect our considered judgement. Owing to its proximity to the Kwongtung Province, there is a constant flow of Chinese of all classes into this Colony, most of whom come here in order to find work to keep themselves from starvation. The present conditions of the two Kwongs further aggravates the situation. The children who are earning wages are essential to the scheme of things" in the daily life of the poor, and without them it would mean so much less income to feed the family. One would like to cut down as much as possible the working hours of these children, but unfortunately there is a limit beyond which one cannot go without doing more harm than good. As a rule these children do piece-work: they are paid according to the amount of hours of work they put in. If, for instance, you halve their working hours of, say, 70 hours a week, you would reduce their income by 50%; and where there is more than one child earning such wages it may mean the loss of the wherewithal to pay
66
rent.
There has been a great deal of talk about "sweated labour" in Hongkong. Except a few isolated cases which one may come across here and there, the work which the children in the Colony are doing cannot be so described. The work is hard no doubt, but where it constitutes the alternative to starvation, it should be allowed, if greater harm is not to be wrought. The struggle for existence in China is intense, and the children who work in the interior are mostly worse off than those earning wages in Hongkong. That is why the Commission do not recommend the total prohibition of child labour, but rather suggest its regulation.
This brings me to the question of compulsory education in the Colony. The idea is very attractive, but a little consideration will show that it cannot be worked. Situated, geographically, as Hongkong is, with its door ever open to the teeming millions from China, the problem of accommodation alone will be found to be most difficult of solution. Then there would be the question of expense which would be enormous, and the difficulty of training the large number of teachers that would be required. Even if all these difficulties could be surmounted, then there would be the question of feeding and clothing the thousands of children who would have to give up their work, upon which they at present depend for their mainten- ance, in order to attend school. I should like, however, to see every child receive some education, if possible; but such should be achieved not by legislation but by voluntary attendance at Continuation Classes in the evening or on Sundays.
(Signed) CHOW SHOU SON.