XN000022-1982-02-10 — Page 24

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1982

EMPLOYMENT OF YOUNG WOMEN

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IT IS LIKELY THAT GIRLS BETWEEN 15 AND 18 WILL SHORTLY BE ALMOST ENTIRELY PROHIBITED FROM WORKING IN LIQUOR-LICENSED PREMISES, THE SECRETARY FOR HOME AFFAIRS, THE HON D.C. BRAY, SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.

AT PRESENT GIRLS IN THE AGE GROUP MAY WORK FROM 6 AM TO 8 PM IN SUCH ESTABLISHMENTS, MR BRAY SAID, REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON MARIA TAM.

SOME INDIVIDUAL EXCEPTIONS MAY BE POSSIBLE, FOR INSTANCE IN SOME ORDINARY RESTAURANTS, BUT THEY WILL BE FEW, HE SAID.

IT IS ALREADY UNLAWFUL TO EMPLOY CHILDREN UNDER 15 IN LICENSED PREMISES, MR BRAY POINTED OUT, ALSO IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY MISS TAM.

INTERVIEW OF RAPE VICTIMS ****

THE ROYAL HONG KONG POLICE FORCE DOES ENSURE THAT ALL FEMALES WHO ALLEGE THEY ARE RAPE VICTIMS ARE INTERVIEWED BY WOMEN POLICE SO FAR AS IS POSSIBLE, AND CIRCUMSTANCES ALLOW, THE SECRETARY FOR SECURITY THE HON LEWIS DAVIES SAID TODAY.

REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE REV HON JOYCE BENNETT IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, MR DAVIES SAID THAT WHENEVER A FEMALE MAKES A REPORT OF RAPE TO ANY POLICE FORMATION, THE DUTY OFFICER IS REQUIRED TO SUMMON A WOMAN OFFICER, PREFERABLY AN INSPECTOR, TO RECEIVE THE REPORT IN A SEPARATE ROOM.

THE ONLY EXCEPTIONS TO THIS PROCEDURE OCCUR, HE SAID, WHERE THE POLICE ARE SUMMONED TO THE SCENE OF AN ALLEGED RAPE EITHER BY THE VICTIM OR A THIRD PARTY.

+IN SUCH CASES IT IS ESSENTIAL TO ESTABLISH AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WHETHER THE ALLEGED ASSAILANT MAY STILL BE IN THE VICINITY.

+AS SOON AS THE ALLEGED VICTIM HAS BEEN QUESTIONED SHE IS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST POLICE FORMATION WHERE SHE CAN BE INTERVIEWED BY A WOMAN POLICE OFFICER, MR DAVIES ADDED.

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