TNAG-0658-FCO40-807-Policy-of-Government-of-Hong-Kong-on-education-1977 — Page 214

CHILD LABOUR IN HONG KONG

18.

I would refer to the replies that my hon Friend the

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and

Commonwealth Affairs gave to my hon Friend the Member for

Liverpool, Scotland Exchange Division (Mr Parry) on 8 December.

The Hong Kong Government are committed to the elimination of

illegal employment of children below the age of 14 and to the

abolition of overtime working for young persons aged 16 and 17

by four annual stages up to the end of 1979.

SOCIAL WELFARE

19. The Governor of Hong Kong announced, at the opening of the Current [session of the Legislative Council, a new scheme for the payment

of public assistance to unemployed able-bodied persons under 55,

the preparation of new plans for services to the handicapped,

elderly and youth, and a comprehensive new social welfare

programme to be completed by about the end of 1977 for phased

implementation starting in 1978.

HEALTH

I

20. I would refer to the reply that my hon Friend the

Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth

Affairs gave to my hon Friend the Member for Carlisle (Mr Ron

Lewis) on 28 February [that, inter alia, the ratio of hospital

beds per 1,000 head of population had increased to 4.34 by the

end of 1976].