TNAG-0280-FCO40-316-Visit-of-Parliamentary-under-Secretary-of-Foreign-and-Common-1970 — Page 93

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a minimum age has also been established in certain

specified fields, e.g. underground work, employment in

sea-going vessels, and employment in licensed premises.

Consideration ought to be given to the imposition of a

minimum age (to coincide with the usual age for leaving

school) below which no child may be employed in any

capacity other than with its own parents. The existing

legislation would continue to protect children in regard

to employment with special risks, standards being

progressively improved with the rise of the age at which

primary education ends.

6.

At the present time, it is the Hong Kong Government's

policy to maintain selective legislation only 'until such

time as it is possible to introduce compulsory education'.

There seems no good reason why, as in other parts of the

world, children should not be protected under at least the

age of 12.

The Staffing of the Labour Department

7. The Labour Department is a key sector of the Hong Kong

Government machine. It is much in the public eye and, in

the absence of effective trade union organisation or an

elected legislature, special responsibilities fall upon

the department to respond to the social needs of the workers

of Hong Kong. ̧

By the end of November the two posts of

Adviser on Labour Legislation and Adviser on Joint

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