TNAG-0585-FCO40-718-Employment-of-children-in-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 248

CODE 18-77

LA 393/1

Reference

(17)

RESTRICTED

Minure

Mr Milton (HKD K247)

woe du. Freworld du. Make.

to

চদ

CHILD LABOUR IN THE UK AND HONG KONG

1. You minuted me on 2 June on the subject of a report, with a Moscow by-line, which appeared in The Times of 2 June about child labour in the UK.

2.

I made enquiries about UK law and practice and can do no better than attach a copy of a letter, dated 23 August, which I have received from the DHSS. For purposes of comparison with Hong Kong, I attach a copy of page 32 of the Hong Kong Labour Department's Annual Report for 1974/75.

3. Do you wish me to obtain any further information from the Health and Safety Executive of the Department of Employment or from the Department of Education & Science?

4.

I think there are significant differences between Hong Kong and the UK over the employment of children and young persons. The main difference is, of course, that in Hong Kong children of 14 and 5 and

may be employed in industrial undertakings: in the UK they may

not.

25 August 1976

RESTRICTED

ARS chant

HR G Hurst

Deputy Overseas Labour Adviser