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stagnant condition there is no need to engage new hands, but should trade improve it is to be expected that children would again be taken on as learners. The number of children regularly employed in factories does not exceed 100. These are mostly working in knitting factories. No European firms employ children under the age of fifteen years.
The regulations governing the employment of women at night were strengthened during the year by further limiting the hours of employment. Night work, i.e. between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. is now prohibited for women and all young persons under the age of eighteen years. This measure did not meet with the approval of certain Chinese owners of knitting factories who petitioned the Government asking that the regulation be relaxed to allow night work in these factories when thought necessary. They claimed that owing to slackness of trade they were unable to maintain a steady output and the uncertainties of exchange made it impossible for them to keep a large stock of goods on hand. Overtime and night work were therefore necessary to enable them to cope with orders as they were received. The petition was not granted. Another change effected during the year was that the minimum age for admission of children to factories was raised from 10 to 12 years. This met with no opposition. These two measures mark an important step forward in local industrial legislation.
Prosecutions.--Seven prosecutions were instituted during the year under the Industrial Employment of Women and Children Ordinance. Five of these were brought by this department against Chinese factory owners for working women at night; two were Police cases against Chinese shopkeepers for compelling children to carry unduly heavy loads. Convictions were obtained in each case with fines ranging from twenty-five to fifty dollars.
Accidents.--The total number of accidents in factories was 75, of which 7 were fatal, as compared with 86 (8 fatal) for the preceding year. The majority of accidents occurred in ship-building yards and were chiefly due to falls from staging or into ships' holds. Only one accident concerned a woman, this being a welcome change from former years, when before the fencing of machinery was made compulsory, scalping accidents amongst women in factories were frequent.
General. At the request of the Empire Canning Council, an investigation was made into the canning industry in this Colony and the possibilities of its expansion on the lines of a questionnaire sent out by the Council. Hong Kong possesses a small trade in canned goods but caters chiefly for the native market. Any attempt to extend the industry could succeed only if accompanied by modern methods of production and certified standards of quality and purity. The information gathered during the enquiry was forwarded to the Canning Council for their consideration.
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stagnant condition there is no need to engage new hands, but should trade improve it is to be expected that children would again be taken on as learners. The number of children regularly employed in factories does not exceed 100. These are mostly working in knitting factories. No European firms employ children under the age of fifteen years.
at
The regulations governing the employment of women night were strengthened during the year by further limiting the hours of employment. Night work, i.e. between the hours of 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. is now prohibited for women and all young persons under the age of eighteen years. This measure did not meet with the approval of certain Chinese owners of knitting factories who petitioned the Government asking that the regulation be relaxed to allow night work in these factories when thought necessary. They claimed that owing to slackness of trade they were unable to maintain a steady output and the uncertainties of exchange made it impossible for them to keep a large stock of goods on hand. Overtime and night work were therefore necessary to enable them to cope with orders as they were received. The petition was not granted. Another change effected during the year was that the minimum age for admission of children to factories was raised from 10 to 12 years. This met with no opposition. These two measures mark an important step forward in local industrial legislation.
Prosecutions.--Seven prosecutions were instituted during the year under the Industrial Employment of Women and Children Ordinance. Five of these were brought by this departinent against Chinese factory owners for working women at night two were Police cases against Chinese shopkeepers for compelling children to carry unduly heavy loads. Con- victions were obtained in each case with fines ranging from twenty-five to fifty dollars.
Accidents.-The total number of accidents in factories was 75 of which 7 were fatal, as compared with 86 (8 fatal) for the preceding year. The majority of accidents occurred in ship- building yards and were chiefly due to falls from staging or into ships holds. Only one accident concerned a woman, this being a welcome change from former years, when before the fencing of machinery was made compulsory, scalping accidents amongst women in factories were frequent.
General. At the request of the Empire Canning Council an investigation was made into the canning industry in this Colony and the possibilities of its expansion on the lines of a questionnaire sent out by the Council. Hong Kong possesses a small trade in canned goods but caters chiefly for the native market. Any attempt to extend the industry could succeed only if accompanied by modern methods of production and certified standards of quality and purity. The information gathered during the enquiry was forwarded to the Canning
ncil for their consideration,
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