TNAG-0873-FCO40-1083-Employment-of-children-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 111

(C)

CONFIDENTIAL

LABOUR LAWS ENACTED SINCE 1974 WHICH REGULATE THE

EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS INCLUDE:

(1) FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT)

REGULATIONS 1977, EFFECTIVE 6 MAY 77, RAISED THE

LEVEL OF MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR CHILD EMPLOYMENT OFFENCES

FROM DOLLARS 5,000 TO 10,000.

1) FACTORIES AND INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS (AMENDMENT)

(NO.2) REGULATIONS 1977, EFFECTIVE 23RD DECEMBER 77, EXTENDED THE SCOPE OF THESE REGULATIONS TO AIRPORTS

AND TO INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS WHICH ARE NOT CARRIED

ON BY WAY OF TRADE OR FOR PURPOSES OF GAIN. (111) THE EMPLOYMENT (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) ORDINANCE

1979, ENACTED ON 18 JULY 79, WILL ENABLE REGULATIONS

TO BE MADE SOON UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE TO

PROHIBIT OR TO CONTROL THE EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN IN

ALL SECTORS. THE NEW REGULATIONS WILL EXTEND THE

EXISTING PROHIBITION OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN

IN INDUSTRIAL UNDERTAKINGS TO NON-INDUSTRIAL ESTAB- LISHMENTS, AND THE MINIMUM AGE OF EMPLOYMENT GENERALLY

WILL BE 14 FROM 1ST SEPTEMBER 79 AND 15 FROM 1ST

SEPTEMBER 80.

(D) THERE IS NO LEGISLATION IN HONG KONG GOVERNING THE EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN AS OUTWORKERS AT HOME, AND THERE IS NO INTENTION TO INTRODUCE ANY LEGISLATION FOR THE CONTROL OF

OUTWORKERS.

(E) PROSECUTIONS:

PROSECUTIONS. CONVICTIONS.

ACQUITTALS.

1974

321

313

1

1975

306

299

1

1976

332

326

1977+

459

446

1

1978

336

318

2

1972(UP

1972 (UP TO 32.6.79)

127

116

1

TOTAL

1881

1817

6

/FINES

2

CONFIDENTIAL