TNAG-0445-FCO40-510-Discussions-with-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong-1974 — Page 103

ALLEGATIONS BY THE "CLUB OF TEN" ABOUT LABOUR CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG

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1. "A Chinese worker doing the same job as a European is normally paid one seventieth to one hundredth of the Euronen's wages".

In Hong Kong Chinese and Europeans are paid the same rate, if they are doing the same job. Unlike South Africe there is no colour bar or colour discrimination. If the comparison is bebrorn wege rates in Hong Kong and wage rates in Europe, then it fa Grup that the latter are higher; but the alleged proportion of 10 to 1/100 is absurd. Hong Kong wages are the highest in Laia,

outside Japan.

2. "There are an estimated thirty thousand child labourers in Hong Kong, where such exploitation is illegal".

In Hong Kong the employment of children under 1 (not now 12) is prohibited in all industrial undertakings and dangerour brader. This law is strictly enforced. There are regular inspections of factories and workshops by Labour Department Inspectors. addition special campaigns are mounted, particularly during school holidays.

In

During the past two years 911 cases involving 1497 children have been brought before the courts. Enforcement is being facilitatel by the introductions of a new juvenile identity card which includes a photograph.

3. The misconception arises because an analysis of the census figure suggested that 36,000 children aged 14 or under were in

/employment