SC Sunday
H
Past Skrald 13 Sept 1970
CA
LAOD
ON CHA
LABOUR
By CYRIL DURUP
•
A MAGISTRATE in court yesterday des- cribed Hongkong's prohibition of child labour as "sanctimonious symbolism.”
The laws were direct- ed at the form rather than the substance of the problem, Mr C. J. Millar said in North Kowloon Court.
The magistrate made a strong attack on the laws and the Labour Depart- ment in a case again a Kun Tong factory.
The foed Semitronica Tid $6,000 for employing two children under the age of 14.
Mr Millar said that antil something was done 10 provide compulsory education for children, and
a proper social welfare programime for their Tamullies, the child labour laws deserved the label ot "anelimonious sym- bolizm."
"This may be said not be # matter for il onagistrate's considern- tion, but I don't believe I ean Upekt my considera- Technicalities of
aw only. "Legal judgment must always be a synthesis con- taining law and social consideration," Mr Miliar
aid.
Maher, The magistrate critiered the Commision- er of Labour for denying the asi dance of his de- partment to factory owners who might be misled into breaking the child labour law by employing under- aged children,
Noting that some chil- dren misled faclory own ers by using false iden- tity cards, Me Millar said he could not understand why factory operators, when in doubt about a child's age, could not take the child to the Labour Department to get their consent to the child's employment.
The magistrate said he understood that such as- sistance had been refused by the Labour Depart ment, leaving the declalon mablag To {ltt་ Factory making 11 clear they would be pro- Recuted if they made the
OWICER
Wrong decision,
"This appears to me to be a negation of respon– Zibility,
OFO which
And
fall hard and unfally om
..
Mr Millar also accused the
Commissioner Labour of being contemp• tuous of court proceedings for refusing to send one of his officers to atiemi yesterday's court case requested earlier by magistrate.
the
Directing his remarks to the owners of Semitronie: Jad, Mr Millar said The fact Tai labour regula. tions were prominently displayed in the factory indicated there had been a deliberate breach of the child labour law.
"The need for complet- ing work was put before the dictate of the lepida- tors, and the factory must bear the responsibility," he added.
Passing sentence, Mr Millar Raid
recoiled from the prospect of the Ten-year-old child working at 8.30 pm in a large Tac- fory where she had been working since 6
That day.
·
The magistrate said Te acerpted, however, that the 13-year-old Child might have misded
the about her age, and that the children had not been e
ploited at Land not for Unabelat gain.
причиная
PRA SEL
PLA troops, yester- day fired sub-rauchine guns at a rcingee who was swimming the Shum Chun Kiver at Lowu border, it YOG lcorned last night.
According to reliable sources, a squad of PLA troops erogied the border following the shooting to And the refuge as
Tidy conthed 16. undergrowth by the fleet for about live muinnte, he. tore the 2 endied off the semreli #d returned to Chinese territory.
Border polica later made #+ aefuperes
search
for the be on t
Fotond, The 25, pokra
Millar said
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