TNAG-0644-FCO40-792-Employment-of-children-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 86

CONFIDENTIAL

.11ed

し 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 hus pointed out, it ought to be possible to secure remedial aotion as regards we level of the fines imposed on employers who infrin the 14.0 concerning child labour. It is not that the present laxinu level of ines ($1,000) is particularly low, but that the courts, for reason.a which are not apparent, have consistently to impoue high fines. (There was one of SHK 3,000 in 1975 but tl.a average for that yoar was 3HK 332, which was actually lowe than the average for 1973.) This problem might be overcome by increasing the maximum level that could be imposed, with a view to prompting the courts to make a corresponding increase i. the level of fines actually imposed. Alternatively, the io? Justice Light be encouraged to advise the courts to adopt.. tou, her attitude towards infringements of child labour legislation. The department intends to take up this lattur with the low! Hong

The second point is that the "orld in Action"

Government.

pro ramme demonstrated the need to ensure that there is no Colay on the part of the Hong Kong Government in carrying out t 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, He shall need to multel carefully to see that there is no slippage in the hon Government's education plans.

urturint is that mi hit be van to modding the hong kong Government to 1.030 the same limit on the employment of chilural in non-in establishments as already exists in the case of industri. estuslishments, 1.8. not below 14 years of age.

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7. I recommend that any enquiries about the "world in Action" pro¿Tumme should be handled by reference to the Answers . Ivan to rrry's P2b tit, as a first stage, the depart.ent sould mrsue the question of the fines imposed for the ille al eploy- Jent of child labour. The OI and r Lipa6, have peal comultod in the preparation of this submission.