TNAG-0783-FCO40-987-Employment-of-children-In-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 63

From The Minister of State

THE RT HON THE LORD GORONWY-ROBERTS

Dear Nigel,

6

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

London SW1A 2AH

6 April 1978

*KK 210/2

1 1978

1 TY

Taken =

I must apologise for the delay in replying to your letter of 9 March endosing the letter from the Reverend A J Ward about the employment of children in Hong Kong.

This is a serious problem but it is one which the Hong Kong Government are taking determined steps to tackle, and I am glad to say that the present position is nothing like as bad as the Reverend Ward has been led to believe.

The employment of children under 15 in industrial undertakings is already illegal. At present, children under 15 may be employed under certain conditions in non-industria. undertakings, but steps are being taken to outlaw this as well. At the same time, the Hong Kong Government are introu- ucing free and compulsory education for all children up to the age of 15: this legislation will come fully into force by September 1980, by which time it will also be illegal for children to be in any sort of fulltime employment.

The Hong Kong Govemment are conscious of the ne to ensure that these laws are properly enforced: the maxima.. fine for the illegal employment of children has recently doubled and now stands at HK$ 10,000 (approximately £1,200. The Government also conduct regular campaigns to ensur the... children are not being illegally employed. In the first nine months of 1977, 466 cases were detected. While that is certainly 466 too many, it is well below the figure of 35,00 quoted by your constituent.

I am returning the Reverend Ward's letter.

Sir Nigel Fisher MC MP

House of Commons

LONDON SW1A OAA

>