TNAG-0873-FCO40-1083-Employment-of-children-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 12

49. Another form of employment of children is as domestic servants in private households, a category where often very low minimum ages, or no minimum age at all, are prescribed. The International Labour Organisation has reported that in some countries in Central America, the Middle East and some parts of Asia, it is common for very young children, usually girls, to be brought to cities from rural areas by adults (not always their parents) and "virtually sold into domestic service" under the guise of "adoption". The children usually get no wages, and are exposed to the potential dangers of overwork, neglect, mistreatment and exploitation. While efforts have been made from time to time to control this practice through regulatory measures, it appears that these have had little success.