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for driving belts and dangerous machinery, and adequate fire-fighting equipment and fire escapes. The Industrial Health Unit in the Labour Department safeguards and promotes the health of workers.
EMPLOYMENT OF WOMEN, YOUNG PERSONS AND CHILDREN
7. The Labour Inspectorate in the Women and Young Persons Unit of the Labour Department operates from 12 branch offices and is responsible for the enforcement of regulations concerning the hours of work for women and young persons in industry, and the ban on child employment. During 1977 the Unit carried out 117,202 inspections of industrial undertakings, resulting in 3,899 prosecu- tions with fines amounting to HK$ 2,162,060.
8. Since 1970, a few factories have been authorised to employ women at night. This permission, which is reviewed annually by the Labour Commissioner, is restricted to factories able to comply with stringent conditions which have not been amended since 1971. There has been some pressure in the past from textile manufacturers for further relaxations but I consider that the present conditions which protect the health and welfare of women workers and take account of domestic and family responsibilities should remain unchanged until at least such time as the results are known of enquiries now being made into the whole aspect of night work for women by the International Labour Organisation and, in the United Kingdom, by the Equal Opportunities Commission and the Health and Safety Executive. The Labour Commissioner has confirmed that at the moment he is not under pressure for any changes. As at 1 January 1978, permission to employ women at night had been granted by the Labour Commissioner to 18 factories employing some 900 women. these factories, 16 were textile mills.
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9. Since 1 January 1975, overtime employment in any industrial undertaking has been limited to 200 hours a year for women and young persons. Regulations became effective as from 1 January 1977 which limited overtime for young persons aged 16 and 17 to 150 hours in the year, to be reduced by annual stages of 50 hours each successive year until its eventual abolition in 1980. Overtime for young persons aged 14 and 15 has always been prohibited.
10.
The Women and Young Persons Unit continued in 1977 its series of campaigns against the employment of children in industry, In the 21st campaign launched in November 1976, 6,230 factories, employing a total of 81,584 workers, were inspected and 31 factories were found to be illegally employing 34 children. In the 22nd campaign, begun in May 1977, 5,295 factories, employing a total of 77,550 workers, were inspected and 32 factories were found to be illegally employing 37 children. In the 23rd campaign in August 1977 (which was conducted during the school summer holidays when many students were seeking summer jobs), 6,646 factories, employing a total of 182,446 workers, were inspected and 112 factories were found to be illegally employing 133 children. It is the policy of the Labou
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