XN000022-1979-07-04 — Page 14

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4, 1979

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CHILD LABOUR NO LONGER A SERIOUS PROBLEM

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THE POSITION WITH REGARD TO CHILD LABOUR IN HONG KONG HAS IMPROVED ENORMOUSLY OVER THE LAST DECADE.

IN INDUSTRY IT IS NO LONGER A SERIOUS PROBLEM, AND THE LABOUR INSPECTORATE ARE VIGILANT IN THEIR WORK IN ERADICATING WHAT LITTLE REMAINS.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. NEIL HENDERSON, AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) WHEN HE OUTLINED PROPOSALS TO EXTEND THE EXISTING PROHIBITION OF EMPLOYMENT CF CHILDREN IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS TO THE NON-INDUSTRIAL SECTOR.

MOVING THE SECOND READING OF THE EMPLOYMENT (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) BILL 1979, MR. HENDERSON DESCRIBED THE PROPOSAL AS A MEASURE TO EXTEND THE MINIMUM AGE FOR EMPLOYMENT TO ALL SECTORS.

HE RECALLED A STATEMENT MADE BY THE GOVERNOR AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 5, 1977, WHICH OUTLINED THE GOVERNMENT'S INTENTIONS:

* TO MAKE JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION COMPULSORY UP TO A

CHILD'S 15TH BIRTHDAY OR UNTIL THE FORM 111 COURSE HAS BEEN COMPLETED- AND

*

TO EXTEND, BY SIMILAR STAGES, THE EXISTING PROHIBITION OF EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS TO NON-INDUSTRIAL ONES AS WELL,

TO IMPLEMENT THE FIRST PART OF THESE POLICIES THE COUNCIL HAS PASSED THE EDUCATION (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 1979 WHICH WILL COME INTO OPERATION ON SEPTEMBER 1 THIS YEAR.

THE BILL IS AIMED AT BRINGING THE SECOND PART INTO OPERATION.

THE BILL, HE EXPLAINED, SEEKS TO AMEND THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE, AND CONSEQUENTIALLY THE EMPLOYMENT OF YOUNG PERSONS AND CHILDREN AT SEA ORDINANCE, THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS, AND THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN AND JUVENILES ORDINANCE, ALL OF WHICH DEAL, INTER ALIA, WITH MINIMUM AGES OF EMPLOYMENT.

IN BRIEF, THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE WILL BE AMENDED BY INTRODUCING A DEFINITION OF +CHILD SO AS TO SPECIFY A MINIMUM AGE AT 14 IN SEPTEMBER 1979 AND AT 15 IN SEPTEMBER 1980 FOR ALL FORMS OF EMPLOYMENT. THE DEFINITION OF +YOUNG PERSON+ HAS TO BE AMENDED AS A CONSEQUENCE, ALSO IN TWO STAGES.

IF THE BILL IS APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL, MR. HENDERSON SAID, RECOMMENDATION WILL BE MADE TO THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL TO MAKE A SET OF REGULATIONS CONCERNING THE EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN.

THE INTENTION IS TO PROHIBIT THE EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN GENERALLY EXCEPT IN SPECIFIC CIRCUMSTANCES WHICH ARE LAID DOWN IN THE REGULATIONS. THESE INCLUDE WORK PERFORMED BY CHILDREN UNDER 13 IN A GENUINE FAMILY BUSINESS OR FROM 14 AS APPRENTICES UNDER THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE.

/CHILDLIN