XN000022-1979-08-09 — Page 8

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THURSDAY, AUGUST 9, 1979

+IN THE LIGHT OF THIS SITUATION, MEMBERS FOUND IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHY HONG KONG SHOULD BE ASKED TO CONSIDER ANY MODIFICATIONS TO THE CURRENT BILATERAL AGREEMENT, MR. JORDAN SAID.

+THE SUBJECT WILL BE CONSIDERED FURTHER BY THE BOARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AFTER THE NEW DIRECTOR OF TRADE, MR. PETER TSAO, TAKES UP HIS POST. THIS IS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE MIDDLE OF NEXT MONTH,+ HE ADDED.

BAN ON EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN UNDER 14

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CHILDREN UNDER 14 YEARS OLD WILL NOT, AS A GENERAL RULE, BE ALLOWED TO WORK IN EITHER THE INDUSTRIAL OR NON-INDUSTRIAL SECTOR WHEN THE EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN REGULATIONS 1979 COME INTO OPERATION ON SEPTEMBER 1 THIS YEAR.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY (THURSDAY) THE PROHIBITION, WHICH HAD BEEN ENFORCED IN THE INDUSTRIAL SECTOR FOR A LONG TIME, WAS BEING EXTENDED TO THE NON-INDUSTRIAL SECTOR TO ASSIST IN THE ENFORCEMENT OF COMPULSORY JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION.

THE REGULATIONS, MADE BY THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL AFTER THE EMPLOYMENT (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) BILL 1979 WAS PASSED BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON JULY 18, WILL BE GAZETTED TOMORROW (FRIDAY).

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE REGULATIONS PROHIBIT GENERALLY THE EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN UNDER 14 UNLESS THEY FELL WITHIN SPECIFIC EXCEPTIONS.

CHILDREN WHO HAVE ATTAINED 13 YEARS MAY, WITH THE WRITTEN CONSENT OF THEIR PARENTS, ENGAGE IN PART-TIME EMPLOYMENT IN NON-INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS SUBJECT TO CERTAIN RESTRICTIONS AIMED AT PROTECTING THE IR HEALTH AND MORALS.

THE REGULATIONS ALSO STIPULATE THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE EMPLOYED

* IN ANY OF THE OCCUPATIONS LISTED IN THE SCHEDULE TO THE

REGULATIONS-

* BEFORE 7 A.M. OR AFTER 7 P.M.-

* DURING SCHOOL HOURS ON A SCHOOL DAY-

* FOR MORE THAN TWO HOURS ON A SCHOOL DAY-

*

FOR MORE THAN FOUR HOURS ON ANY OTHER DAY DURING THE SCHOOL TERM, AND

*

DURING THE SUMMER HOLIDAYS FOR MORE THAN EIGHT HOURS ON ANY DAY.

/ACCORDING TO west