TNAG-0873-FCO40-1083-Employment-of-children-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 126

CONFIDENTIAL

For discussion

on 26th June 1979

The Queue 225/6.

Anbulay. form

2576

124/

機密 @

XCC(79)66--

Copy No.... Page 1

MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

- 3 JUL 1979

EMPLOYMENT (MISCELLA NEOUS PROVISIONS) BILL 1979

EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN REGULATIONS 197

A

Introduction

On 20th September 1977, after considering memorandum XCC(77)72 concerning school attendance and prohibition of employment of children under 15 (Annex A), the Council advised and the Governor ordered, inter alia, that:

(a) the prohibitions on the employment of children should

be extended as necessary to assist the enforcement of school attendance by children of compulsory school age; and

(b) implementation of the proposals should take into

account the need for flexibility with regard to the actual hours of attendance at school.

2

In his address in the Legislative Council on 5th October 1977, the Governor outlined the Government's intentions:

(a) to make junior secondary education compulsory up to

a child's 15th birthday or until the Form III course has been completed, if that is earlier, by extending the powers of the Director of Education under the Education Ordinance (Chapter 279) to serve a school attendance order in respect of 12 and 13 year-old children with effect from 1st September 1979 and in respect of 14 year-olds from 1st September 1980; and

(b) by similar stages, to extend the existing prohibition of

employment of children in industrial undertakings to non-industrial ones as well. The intention was to prohibit employment which would interfere with a child's schooling, but flexibility would be maintained to allow for part-time employment, particularly in family businesses or summer jobs. Those who had completed their Form III education before reaching 15 years of age would also be allowed to work if they so wish.

Accordingly, to implement (a), Council considered, on 3rd April 1979, memorandum XCC(79)34 concerning the Education (Amendment) Bill 1979 which was subsequently enacted and will come into operation on 1st September 1979.

CONFIDENTIAL

機

密