TNAG-0644-FCO40-792-Employment-of-children-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 88

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HONG KONG: FINES FOR THE ILLEGAL EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN

1. The Secretary of State has asked what we are doing about increasing the fines for employing children in Hong Kong (Mr Dales' minute of 21 March).

2. One of the worrying points that emerged from the Granada TV "World in Action" programme on 13 December last was the low level of fines imposed by the courts in Hong Kong on employers who infringe the laws concerning child labour. The Hong Kong Commissioner for Labour himself, who was interviewed in the programme, said that he would like to see higher fines. I drew attention to the problem, which had arisen before, in paragraph 6 of my submission of 21 December and proposed that we should write to the Governor about it. Lord Goronwy-Roberts agreed and Mr Stewart (who is at present in Hong Kong) wrote to the Governor on 30 December to ask him to consider what action might be taken to provide a better

The Hong Kong deterrent to infringements of the child labour laws. Attorney-General, who replied on the Governor's behalf on 27 January, acknowledged that the fines imposed were on the low side and said that he was prepared to use his "review powers" with

He a view to persuading the courts to impose stiffer penalties. was arranging for the Commissioner for Labour to bring a suitable case to his attention. Nothing more has been heard in the meantime

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and we have telegraphed to Hong Kong stressing the Secretary of State's concern about this.

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The department will report further.

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