TNAG-0783-FCO40-987-Employment-of-children-In-Hong-Kong-1978 — Page 65

J N Henderson Esq JP

Commissioner for Labour Labour Department

HONG KONG

AKC210/2.

RECOVE

- 4 APR 1978

DESK OFFICER

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HK 16

3 April 1978

EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS

1.

In paragraph 12 of my report on my visit to Hong Kong I promised to provide information on the limitations applied in the UK on child employment in the hope that it will be of use to you when preparing legislation for phasing out the employment of children in non-industrial employment in Hong Kong.

2.

As you know, all employment in industrial occupations in the UK is prohibited to children under compulsory school-leaving age (16 years). Legislation covering the part-time employment of children below compul- sory school leaving age in non-industrial employment is the concern in this country of the Department of Health and Social Security. The minimum age of employment, as laid down in the Children Act 1972, is 13, although children under that age may be employed by their parents in light agricultural or horticultural work and, subject to many restrictions, in artistic performances. The children and their employers have to comply with detailed restrictions on the hours and conditions of employ- ment laid down in section 18 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 and local education authority by-laws made under that section, and section 34 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1963. (Copies of the Children Act 1972 and the two relevant sections of the 1933 and 1963 legislation are attached). The restrictions are designed to safeguard the children's health, education and general welfare. The main legisla- tion prohibits the employment of children before 7 am and after 7 pm, for more than 2 hours on any school day, for more than 2 hours on Sunday and in any work which might be likely to cause injury. The by-laws differ from authority to authority, but may be more restrictive, eg. they may not allow children under the age of 14 to be employed and may prohibit employment in a number of occupations and altogether on Sundays. They also limit the hours children can work on Saturdays and in the school holidays the maximum that is allowed generally being 5 hours a day subject to a maximum of 25 hours a week for children under 15, and 8 hours a day subject to a maximum of 35 hours a week for children of 15 and over.

/3. Under the