22
As regards education and publicity, the Labour Department maintains regular contacts with the Education Department to ensure that schools are well aware of the Regulations, especially in respect of employment of school children. The Education Department issues an advisory circular to all schoc's annually drawing their attention to the Regulations.
In addition, the Labour Department disseminates publicity pamphlets near the summer vacation each year to warm employers against employing children under the age of 13, and to remind students as well as their parents of the conditions governing the employment of children aged 13 to 14 as stipulated under the Regulations.
End
Arrangements for surrender of fugitive offenders explained
Following is a question by the Hon Christine Loh and a written reply by the Secretary for Security, Mr Peter Lai, in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday):
Question:
Hong Kong has arrangements with some 90 countries for the surrender of fugitive offenders, and these arrangements will lapse on 1 July this year. It is learnt that the Government has set a target of establishing 20 bilateral agreements with the countries concerned before that date, but so far only 6 such agreements have been signed and the remaining 14 are still under negotiation. In this connection, will the Government inform this Council:
(a)
(b)
(c)
of the progress of the on-going negotiations with the 14 countries concerned, and the number of bilateral agreements expected to be signed before 1 July this year;
of the reasons for the delay in completing the negotiation with the United Kingdom which is among the 14 countries mentioned above; and whether the Government will give an assurance that the negotiation will be successfully completed; and
whether the existence of a bilateral agreement for the surrender of fugitive offenders after 30 June 1997 is a pre-condition set by some countries before they would consider granting visa-free entry status for British National (Overseas)/Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport holders; if so, which countries are these?