10
In the course of time we hope that adult labour will replace that of children in factories, so that the Government should be asked either to undertake the necessary industrial training or to encourage private enterprise in this direction. Meanwhile schools for "half timers," such as those which have been successfully started in India, might be tried.
In Shanghai a Chinese lady has had good results with such methods. In her "Industrial Home" the children do four (4) hours manual work and four (4) hours study, while the remainder of the day is devoted to recreation.
Such or similar methods might be attempted in Hongkong.
PART II.
Children Employed in Casual Labour.
9. The employment of children outside factories in casual and muskilled work, and especially in burden bearing, is the most difficult problem which we have had to face. Reliable information is extremely difficult to procure, the work is done by the poorest members of the community, who have often no fixed place of abode, and the place of work is constantly being changed. The eyes of European inhabitants are naturally drawn to those who carry bricks and other materials to the Peak and Hill Districts, but the same kind of labour is carried on all over the Colony. Children are freely employed in this work and investigation has shown that even those as young as seven (7) or eight (8) years are not exempted. The physical condition of many of the women who have been long engaged in this work is even worse than that of the children, and judging from this we are driven to the conclusion that no form of work exercises such a degrading effect upon the workers as labour of this kind. We are unable to suggest any regula tions which will suffice to alter this state of things, and in our opinion the real solution of the question lies in Mechanical Transport. As far as the Peak is concerned the approaching completion of the motor road should bring this method of transport within the range of possibility. A recent answer to a question in the Legislative Council indicates that considerable economy in the speed and cost of the transport of all articles to the Peak could be effected by the introduction of motor transport, and that the present system of manual trausport is slow, cumbrous and wasteful,
10. As the development indicated in the last section will take time, we propose as a temporary measure, that all building and engineering contracts entered into in the Colony should contain clauses probibiting the employment of children under the age of thirteen (13) years, and regulating the weights carried by child workers. We do not pretend that this proposal covers the whole ground, or that it will provide the remedy needed; but we think that it will do good in causing contractors to realise their responsibilities to labour, in fostering co-operation between them and Inspectors, and in gathering information about a section of the community of whom little is known. As a scale of weights suitable for children over the age of thirteen (13) and below that of sixteen (16), it is suggested that twenty (20) catties is a suitable minimum, and that no load should exceed forty (40) catties. For purposes of comparison it may be added that one small brick is roughly equivalent to 2 catties, so that the number of bricks that a child may carry should vary from eight to sixteen (8 to 16). Between these limits the load would be adjusted to the age and physical fitness of the child. It is most desirable that this standard should not be interpreted too literally. The figures are not in any sense final, and are only meant to afford a rough indication of the carrying capacity of children of different ages, What must at all costs be avoided is the barrying of labourers by petty officials. These suggestions can only result in good if Inspectors and contractors work in close co-operation. In this connec- tion we are greatly indebted to Mr. Li Ping, the result of whose investigations is to be found in Appendix 3 (A).
– 11,
11. In brief our recommendations are as follows :—
(1) That all employers of children be compelled to register them, and that for this purpose a child be considered as a person below the age of sixteen (16) years (Chinese), and that when possible this should be applied to employers of casual labour.
(2) That no child under the age of eleven (11) be employed in any factory, nor should any child under thirteen (13) be employed in any form of casual labour, and that the onus of proving the age of a child be on the employer. One of the Commissioners Rev. Mr. Wells is not in entire agreement, (vide Section 6 (2)).
(8) That the hours of work for children do not exceed fifty-four (54) per week that children do not at any time work more than five (5) hours consecutively that they be ensured one day's rest in every seven (7) days; and that where 'aud when possible some form of halt time labour be encouraged.
(4) That children be not employed during the hours between 7 and
p.m. 6 a.m. One of the Commissioner Mr. Chow Shou Son is not in entire agree:nent, (ride Section 6 (4)).
(5) That children be not employed in glass factories.
(6) That children be not employed in the work of boiler chipping. One of the Commissioners Mr. Chow Shou Sou is not in entire agreement, (vide Section 6 (6) ).
(7) That children be not employed in dangerous trades.
(8) The employers be compelled to provide rest rooms and suitable sanitary conveniences for workers and to inake due provision for medical aid in case of accidents.
(9) That Inspectors be appointed for all classes of child labour.
(10) That in building and engineering contracts articles be inserted
regulating the weights to be carried by children.
We do not intend that the above series of recommendations be regarded as hard and fast rules which admit of no deviation. They represent no more than a beginning, of which the ultimate object must be the entire removal of children from factories. The speed with which this object is accomplished will depend upon the spirit in which factory legislation, if approved, is administered.
12. la conclusion we wish to express our best thanks to all who have helped us in our investigations.
13. The following four (4) Appendices are provided :—
(1) Minutes of evidence taken on April 13th and 20th and on May 4th.
Statement of working conditions in the Kowloon Dock.
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