TNAG-0585-FCO40-718-Employment-of-children-in-Hong-Kong-1976 — Page 274

CODE 18-77

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RECEIVED IN REGISTRY No. 51

pramming paper

Mr Janvrin HKIOD

HONG KONG LEVEL OF FINES

1.

<d

- 6 APR 1976

MKK 210/2

From time to time there has been criticism of the low level of fining in cases brought before the Courts by the Department of Labour, Hong Kong. I see from a newspaper article that the Attorney-General has refused to draw criticisms of the level of fining to the attention of the Chief Justice. I cannot understand this reluctance.

2. I enclose a copy of my report on my visit in 1967 (which you may retain) which deals with the problem in paras. 11 and 12. If I recall aright, Mr England's Fabian pamphlet also criticises the level of fining. I think it would be worth considering asking officially for the Hong Kong Government's views and, if you think fit, drawing attention to the length of time this problem has persisted and to the possible remedy i.e. the prosecution in respect of each single worker employed contrary to the law, contained in my 1967 report.

25 February 1976

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G Foggon