XN000022-1979-07-18 — Page 18

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HE ALSO ASKED HIM NOT TO RELAX HIS EFFORTS IN ELIMINATING CHILD LABOUR DESPITE THE ENORMOUSLY IMPROVED SITUATION, AND RALLY THE SUPPORT OF GRASS-ROOTS ORGANISATIONS SUCH AS CDO COMMITTEES AND MUTUAL AID COMMITTEES IN EXERTING CONTINUOUS SOCIAL PRESSURE TOWARDS ITS COMPLETE ELIMINATION.

SUPPORT FOR THE BILL ALSO CAME FROM THE HON. JAMES WU, WHO SAID THAT AT THE PRESENT STAGE OF DEVELOPMENT AND WITH THE TRADITIONAL CONCERN OF CHINESE PARENTS FOR THE EDUCATION AND WELL-BEING OF THEIR CHILDREN, HE DID NOT FORESEE ANY HARDSHIP AND DIFFICULTY IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF THIS BILL. BEARING IN MIND THAT MOST FOREIGN CRITICISMS OF CHILD-LABOUR IN HONG KONG IN THE PAST WERE EITHER ILL-INFORMED, OR HARBOURING ULTERIOR MOTIVES PARTICULARLY BY TRADE-PROTECTIONISTS.

+ON THE CONTRARY, AS HONG KONG IS FORCED TO MECHANISE AND DIVERSIFY INTO MORE SOPHISTICATED INDUSTRIES, A MORE MATURE AND EDUCATED WORKFORCE IS PARAMOUNT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HIGHER CAPABILITY AND PRODUCTIVITY THAT ARE SO ESSENTIAL FOR MEETING COMPETITION. FOR THIS REASON, CHILD-LABOUR WILL BY ITSELF VANISH FROM OUR INDUSTRIAL SCENE, SO WILL THOSE WHO BELIEVE THAT SUCH ARE STILL PROFITABLE TO EXPLOIT, MR, WU SAID.

IN REPLY, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, THE HON. NEIL HENDERSON, THANKED UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS FOR THEIR VALUABLE COMMENTS IN SUPPORT FOR THE BILL.

CONCERNING CHILDREN WHO MAY BE PERMITTED TO WORK UP TO THE ENTIRE SUMMER HOLIDAY PERIOD, MR. HENDERSON ASSURED THE COUNCIL THAT HE WOULD WATCH THIS CAREFULLY,

HE EMPHASISED THAT THIS PERMISSION WAS SUBJECTED TO PARENTAL CONSENT, LIMITED TO NON-INDUSTRIAL EMPLOYMENT, AND COULD NOT BE GIVEN TO PROHIBITED OCCUPATIONS.

+SO GENERALLY SPEAKING, THE EMPLOYMENT WILL NOT BE HEAVY, UNHEALTHY OR HAZARDOUS IN NATURE, HE ADDED.

GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE NUMBER OF ABANDONED VEHICLES ******

THE ACTING SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THE HON. GRAHAM BARNES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO REDUCE SUBSTANTIALLY THE NUMBER OF ABANDONED VEHICLES NEXT YEAR.

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THERE ARE ABOUT 1,150 ABANDONED VEHICLES ON THE ROADS -- ON HONG KONG ISLAND, 500 IN KOWLOON AND 600 IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, MR. BARNES SAID IN REPLY TO A QUESTION FROM THE HON. HILTON CHEONG-LEN,

+THE RECENT INCREASE IS LARGELY DUE TO A HITCH IN THE CHAIN OF PROCEDURES INVOLVED IN CLEARING AN ABANDONED CAR FROM THE ROADS. CAUSED BY THE GOVERNMENT CONTRACTOR FOR CRASHING THE ABANDONED CARS LOSING HIS WORKS SITE TO THE MTR, MR, BARNES SAID.

+BUT A VERY URGENT SEARCH IS GOING ON FOR A NEW ONE. AND PROVIDED THE CONTRACTOR, OR A CONTRACTOR, CAN BE RE-ESTABLISHED IT SHOULD BE POSSIBLE TO MAKE SOME IMPACT ON THE PRESENT BACKLOG.+