TNAG-0644-FCO40-792-Employment-of-children-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 129

CONFIDENTIAL

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25.6.

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Sir M MacLehose GBE KCMG KCVOTM

Governor

HONG KONG

30 December 1976

by Enter

9/2 3 4

NAD in

CHILD LABOUR AND THE GRANADA PROGRAMME "WORLD IN ACTION"

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fortnight 3% fortnight again 24/

1. Perhaps because Parliament went into recess so soon after. it was screened, or perhaps because Bob Parry's salvo of PQ8 pre-empted any possible subsequent parliamentary interest, the "World in Action" programme on child labour has not so far created the stir that we expected. We have had three or four letters from members of the public asking what HMG are doing about the problem and you will probably have seon the article by Sylvia Clayton in the "Daily Telegraph" of 14 December (to which Teddy Kidd wrote a reply published on 18 December). This fortnight's "Private Eye" (24 December) has come up with a fairly lengthy article of quarter truth combined with cere-

But there has free and libellous inaccuracies (copy enclosed).

been nothing more.

2. However, in more than one sense it is early days yet and I expect that a more significant reaction will develop in the New Year. As of yesterday, 121 MPs have under-written Parry's Motion on the "Democratic and Social Advancement of Hong Kong", and 142 have subscribed to Paul Bryan's Motion on social progress. This is approximately two-fifths of the House of Commons and however many of these MPs are simply along for the ride (or, as Paul Bryan claimed to me recently, however many of their names

the likelihood went forward unbeknownst to the MPs themselves

any,

is growing of a parliamentary debate on Hong Kong within the next few months, along with further discussion in TUC circles. If there is a debate of any substance, I would lay money that child labour is raised.

3. In his interview with Granada Iain Price made a point which might well, in such a debate, be presented as a loop

It was hole in Hong Kong's (otherwise very adequate) defence. to the effect that the Courts have consistently failed to impose high fines on those convicted of illegally employing child labour. As you know, the present maximum level of fine is HK$5,000. To my knowledge, though, the highest fine in any

CONFIDENTIAL