HONGKONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
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THE COLONIAL SECRETARY seconded. some legislation to regulate the empley- HON. MR. CHOW SHOU-SON said— ment of children in this Colóny. The com Sir, While my Chinese colleague and Imunity is responsible for the labour Ats in sympathy with the Bill in ite prin- conditions that prevail here and, in , we wish to bring to the notice of particular, for the protection of women Government a point arising out of and children from any suspicion of sweat. his proposed legislation. The Bill, if ing, and there can be no doubt that fac- med as it now stands, would not only tory laws are a necessity in Hongkong. aprive some poor families of a part of This Bill is a move in the right direction, heir earning power, but would also make but I think that some provision should It more difficult for such poor parents as
be made for women inspectors as well as are earning their living away from home,
men in factories. As regards children. look after their children. Apart from under 12 -under which age they are not his, there is also the possibility of the allowed to carry loads, and those under mber of juvenile criminals being in- 10, which is the age limit for employ
sed, if such children were allowed to ment in factories,-I must admit that L an wild in the street. I therefore hold do not know what is to be done with these view that it is the duty of the Govern children when their parents are at work, nt to do something for this class of My Chinese colleague has suggested that. ildren, not only for their individua! schools should be provided where useful: bed, but also for the welfare of the com- trades should be taught. That is an excel, unity. As there are neither reforma lent suggestion, but is it practicable! T. brien nor industrial schools in the Colony seems to me that these schools would have which children of this class may be to be dotted all over the Colony, other ent to learn a useful trade or handicraft wise, I am afraid, the children would
only alternative that I can think of, for the Government to establish, or the wherewithal to pay for transport. As never reach thera, because they have not st in eatablishing, free schools for regards the reformatory, there is one in aur education. I do not anticipate any the Colony already, but, I understand, it culty in establishing this kind of is not in use as a reformatory because. hool nor that the expense would be there is no one to put into it. With these
I do not suggest compulsory remarks, Sir, I beg to support the Bill acation, which has been considered to Himpracticable here, but what I have in bd is the establishment of free schools der the direct charge of, say, the Con- cian Society and the Tung Wah Hos tal Committee (they are already doing rly good work in this line) or any other cational body, with the financial detance of the Government. A feasible eme can easily be thought out. My gue and I strongly recommend the ter to the serious consideration of the verument, and hope that before long Government will make an announce ht that the proposal will be adopted. TLON. MR. PARR-Sir, I rise
port the views expressed by the hon.
to ior Chinese member. I think my Un- cal colleagues will agree with me that
Government should make pangements on the lines suggested.
some
Toy. ML BRID Sir, I believe the com
ity at large will welcome this Bill us it is high time that there was
mention that I have been informed that there THE ATTORNEY GENERAL I might is one small industrial school at present, which, I think, is conducted by the Church Missionary Society at Causeway Bay. GOVERNMENT-No, at Kowloon City.
THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING T
THE GOVERNMENT-I am glad to hear the H.E. THE OFFICER ADMINISTERING
remarks of the senior Chinese member on the principle of the bill, as well as
tbe. member (Mr. Parr), and by the honourable remarks made by the senior anoticial. member on my right (Mr. Bird). Of course, it was realised by the Commission which at on this question, and out of whose labour this ship would be caused if the employment Bill has been drafted, that some hard- of children under certain ages and in certain trades was forbidden by law, but anyone who examines the proceedings of the Commission will see, all through, that it recognised that that was the lesser of kind was introduced those evils would two evils: that unless legislation of this continus, merely from economie premuro
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