TNAG-0645-FCO40-793-Employment-of-children-in-Hong-Kong-1977 — Page 14

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CONFIDENTIAL

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Mr Murray

[Mr Cortazzi

Mr Stephen P. 25/10 [PS/Lord Goronwy-Roberts

PS

chon Tebes

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CHILD LABOUR IN HONG KONG

1. The General-Secretary of the Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff has written to the Secretary of State as a result of a Motion referred from the

Union's Annual Conference to its Executive Council.

2. The Motion urges a ban on the importation of goods made in Hong Kong by child labour. In informing us of the Executive Council's support for this Motion, the General-Secretary expresses the hope that legislation can be introduced to prevent the use of

such labour.

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3. The subject of child labour has been very much in the minds

of both the FCO and the Government of Hong Kong for some consider- able time. A major step towards ending this practice is to be taken during the current session of the Hong Kong Legislative Council with the introduction of compulsory free education for children up to their 15th birthday. Existing legislation already prevents the employment of children up to that age in industrial undertakings: this legislation is to be extended to cover non- industrial work. These changes will be introduced in stages, but should be fully operational by September 1980. Relevant extracts from the Governor's speech at the opening of the Legislative

Council are attached.

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Meanwhile, consultations are going on between this department and the Government of Hong Kong to ensure that effective machinery exists to enforce the legislation. As a step towards this,

legislation was enacted in the last session of the Legislative Council to increase the maximum fine for the illegal employment of children in industrial undertakings from HK$5,000 to HK$10,000.

CONFIDENTIAL

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