- C 45
ANNEXE B.
Report of the Inspector of Factories for the year 1928.
Most of the factories in the Colony have worked very much under their full capacity for the greater part of the year. This has resulted in a further decrease in the number of young children employed. The knitting factories in Kowloon and the cigarette factories in Hong Kong formerly employed large numbers of young girls of 12-15 years of age. With trade in an almost stagnant condition no new learners were taken on and those children already employed have outgrown the age of registration. Should trade improve so that extra hands are needed it may be expected that children will again be engaged as learners. The almost complete absence from factories of children under 15 is but a temporary state of affairs due to present conditions and does not necessarily indicate a changed attitude on the part of employers. When trade improves children will again be employed in large numbers. The total number of children now working in factories is 100. These are employed in knitting factories. No European firms in the Colony employ children under the age of 15 years.
Dangerous Trades.-Glassmaking. A noteworthy feature of this trade is the increasing number of women and girls employed. They are rapidly displacing the men in everything but the actual glass blowing. This may be the result of the restrictions placed on the employment of boys in glass factories. The work is unsuitable for women and is carried out under conditions which make glass making an exceedingly unhealthy and dangerous trade.
Fireworks. There is only one factory in the Colony where fireworks are made. Children are not employed, most of the workers being women. The factory is modern and the work is carried on under fairly safe conditions, although from the nature of the industry there is always a considerable danger of explosions. Another factory has recently been established on the beach at Kennedy Town and although termed a 'cracker factory' is not actually such since no filling with powder or other explosive is done there: the work carried on being the making of the tubes or cartridges which are sent elsewhere to be filled.
During the year investigations were made into the conditions prevailing in the white lead and vermilion factories with a view to ascertaining to what extent the workers in these trades—most of whom are women—suffer from lead poisoning or mercurial poisoning contracted during the course of their employment; and to consider what measures can best be taken to minimise the risk from such industrial diseases. Enquiries so far made show that a large proportion of the workers show signs of “blue gum”, the typical symptom of lead poisoning, and some of the men also showed symptoms of mercurial poisoning. The methods of manufacture in these factories are very primitive and the sanitary accommodation together with washing facilities
- C 45
ANNEXE B.
Report of the Inspector of Factories for the year 1928.
Most of the factories in the Colony have worked very much under their full capacity for the greater part of the year. This has resulted in a further decrease in the number of young children employed. The knitting factories in Kowloon and the cigarette factories in Hong Kong formerly employed large num- bers of young girls of 12-15 years of age. With trade in an almost stagnant condition no new learners were taken on and those children already employed have outgrown the age of registra- tion. Should trade improve so that extra hands are needed it may be expected that children will again be engaged as learners. The almost complete absence from factories of children under 15 is but a temporary state of affairs due to present conditions and does not necessarily indicate a changed attitude on the part of employers. When trade improves children will again be employed in large numbers. The total number of children now working in factories is 100. These are employed in knitting fac- tories. No European firms in the Colony employ children under the age of 15 years.
Dangerous Trades.-Glassmaking. A noteworthy feature of this trade is the increasing number of women and girls employed. They are rapidly displacing the men in everything but the actual glass blowing. This may be the result of the restrictions placed on the employment of boys in glass factories. The work is un- suitable for women and is carried out under conditions which make glass making an exceedingly unhealthy and dangerous trade.
Fireworks. There is only one factory in the Colony where fireworks are made. Children are not employed, most of the workers being women. The factory is modern and the work is carried on under fairly safe conditions, although from the nature of the industry there is always a considerable danger of explo- sions. Another factory has recently been established on the beach at Kennedy Town and although termed a 'cracker factory' is not actually such since no filling with powder or other ex- plosive is done there: the work carried on being the making of the tubes or cartridges which are sent elsewhere to be filled.
During the year investigations were made into the conditions prevailing in the white lead and vermilion factories with a view to ascertaining to what extent the workers in these trades-most of whom are women-suffer from lead poisoning or mercurial poisoning contracted during the course of their employment; and to consider what measures can best be taken to minimise the risk from such industrial diseases. Enquiries so far made show that a large proportion of the workers show signs of “blue gum', the typical symptom of lead poisoning, and some of the men also showed symptoms of mercurial poisoning. The methods of manufacture in these factories are very primitive and the sanitary accommodation together with washing facilities
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