BACKGROUND NOTE
CONFIDENTIAL
1. At present the employment of children under 15 in industrial undertakings is illegal, and this will be extended to include all full-time employment by 1980. Employers found guilty of illegal employment of children now face a maximum fine of HK$ 10,000 which
was raised from the previous figure of HK $ 5,000 on 6 May 1977. Since last May fines of HK$ 5,000 (the highest sentence imposed so far) have been imposed on 4 occasions. The average level of fines has increased substantially over the past few years. 416 factory owners were convicted last year for 446 offences.
2. The registration of all 11 to 17 year olds (which includes the issue of an identity card with photograph) is expected to be completed by October of this year, which will make it more difficult for employers to
claim that they were misled about children's ages.
The Women and Young Persons Unit of the Hong Kong Department of Labour mount a continuous publicity campaign against illegal employment of children and carry out widespread checks three times each year.
CONFIDENTIAL
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