TNAG-0585-FCO40-718-Employment-of-children-in-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 206

CONFIDENTIAL

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C. There are no grounds for complacency as regards some of the points brought out in the programme. Two points in particular are worrying. First, as the Overseas Labour Adviser has pointed out, it ought to be possible to secure remedial action as regards the level of the fines imposed on employers who infringe the las concerning child labour. It is not that the present maxi.n level of fines (31K 5,000) is particularly low, but that the courte, for reasons which are not apparent, have consistently to impose high finos. (There was one of HK 3,000 in 1975 but the average for that year was 3HK 332, which was actually lose. than the average for 1973.) This problem might be overcome by increasing the muximin level that could be imposed, with a view to prompting the courts to make a corresponding increase in the level of fines actually imposed. Alternatively, the Chie? Justice might be encouraged to advise the courts to adopt ..

tou her attitude towards infringements of child labour legislation.

The department intends to take up this matter with the Hong Kong

Government. The second point is that the "World in Action"

programme demonstrated the need to ensure that there is no Celay on the part of the Hong Kong Government in carrying out it:

proposed plan to raise the school leaving age to 15 by 1.00 90

that the related minimum age for any form of employment could be

correspondingly adjusted upwards. We shall need to wutel

carefully to see that there is no slippage in the hon• 20...

Goverment's education plans. A further pint is that cons deration

mi ht be iven to prodding the long Hong Government to impose the same limit on the employment of children in non-in ustrial establishments as already exists in the case of industri. establishments, i.e. not below 14 years of age.

7. I recommend that any enquiries about the "world in Action" programme should be handled by reference to the Answers. Ivan to Mr Parry's PQs and that, as a first stage, the departent should pursue the question of the fines imposed for the illegal 2.ploy- ent of child labour. The Ol and fr Lipse, have bem co...ulted in the preparation of this submission.

21 December 1976

DP hilton Hong Kong Department

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