TNAG-0129-FCO40-165-Labour-legislation-1970 — Page 57

CONFIDENTIAL

CYPHER/CAT A

IMMEDIATE HONG KONG

TEL NUMBER 142

1

TO FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE

DATE 12 FEBRUARY 1969

CONFIDENT I AL

REccIVES IN ARCHIVES No.31

YOUR TELEGRAM 113:PARLIAMENTARY QUESTION,

1 3 FEB 1969

HKK SY IS

THE QUESTION AS RECEIVED HERE REFERS TO #1 AMENDING THE LABOUR

LAWS SO AS TO PERMIT THE EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS

IN TEXTILE FACTORIES'

2. WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS ARE OF COURSE ALREADY PERMITTED TO

WORK IN TEXTILE AND OTHER FACTORIES PROVIDED THEY ARE EMPLOYED

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAK INGS

ORDINANCE AND REGULATIONS, SO THAT NO AMENDMENT IS NECESSARY ON

THIS SCORE.

3. HOWEVER, MR THORNTON IS PRESUMABLY REFERRING TO NIGHT WORK

IN FACTORIES. THIS IS PROHIBITED UNDER THE FACTORIES AND

INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAK INGS REGULATIONS, BUT SECTION 7(4) OF THE

ORDINANCE AUTHOR IZES THE COMMISSIONER OF LABOUR TO EXEMPT

ANY INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKING FROM COMPLIANCE WITH THE REGULATIONS.

THE NEED FOR AMENDMENT TO THE LAW DOES NOT THEREFORE ARISE IN

THIS CASE EITHER.

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4. THE SUBJECT OF NIGHT WORK FOR WOMEN WAS RAISED BY DR S.Y. CHUNG

IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 29TH NOVEMBER 1967. IT WAS RAISED

SUBSEQUENTLY IN THE ADJOURNMENT DEBATE ON 14TH FEBRUARY 1968

BY DR S.Y. CHUNG AND MR DICKSON LEACH, AND AGA IN BY THE LATTER

CURING THE BUDGET DEBATE ON 14TH MARCH 1968.

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CONFIDENTIAL

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