TNAG-0129-FCO40-165-Labour-legislation-1970 — Page 54

Dd.156229 Gp.863

PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION

Home Kong Dept.

The draft reply should reach the Parliamentary Office through your Under-Secretary by

༢༠

Noon on Tww.13/2

for WRITTEN answer on

66W

La Mr. Ernest Thornton (Farnworth): To ask the

Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he is aware of representations being made to the Government of Hong Kong with a view to amending the labour laws so as to permit the employment of women and young persons in textile factories; and if he will give an undertaking that he will withhold his consent to such amendment of the law in the colony.

The Millan Whitlock

14th February, 1969

My hon. Friend is presumably referring to recent

representations about the employment of women and young persons

on night work. This is prohibited by Regulations made under the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance, but under Section 7(4) of that Ordinance the Commissioner of Labour has power to exempt any industrial undertaking from compliance with the Regulations. No legislation is therefore required to introduce any relaxation of this general prohibition.

The current

Past requests for relaxation have been refused. proposals are for a limited relaxation in selected textile factories. They have been discussed in Hong Kong with my

we Labour Adviser:

await his report and the views of the

Hong Kong Government.

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