TNAG-0873-FCO40-1083-Employment-of-children-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 181

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Reference.

HKGD K 242

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2 1 MAR 1979

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منامكس

HONG KONG : PQ ON EMPLOYMENT OF CHILDREN

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2013

1. We spoke on 14 March about a PQ asking what proposals have been received by the Secretary of State from the TUC or trade unions concerning the abuse of employment of children in Hong Kong.

2. We can trace no recent proposals on our files. The key discussions between the Secretary of State and the TUC on the employment of children in Hong Kong appear to us to have taken place as long ago as 15 July 1974 when a delegation from the TUC's International Committee met Mr Callaghan. Lord Goronwy-Roberts was also present. The FCO record of the meeting does not specifically mention child employment but we have checked our recollections with the TUC and their record shows that they did raise the general question of working conditions and trade union freedoms in the Colony and called for an investigation of the situation. This July 1974 meeting was referred to in the TUC General Council's report to Congress in 1974. The 1974 Congress adopted a resolution on Hong Kong moved by Mr Macgougan, General Secretary of the National Union of Tailors and Garment Workers, in the course of which he drew attention to the "exploitation of child labour". A copy of his speech is attached. The resolution was brought to the attention of the Secretary of State who in October 1974 replied that he was hopeful that the Government would have some useful progress to report through the medium of the Overseas Labour Consultative Committee.

3. Hong Kong has featured on the agenda for the last three meetings of the Overseas Labour Consultative Committee held in December 1974, January 1976 and April 1977. The memoranda on Hong Kong circulated before each meeting contained details of the thrice yearly special campaigns conducted by the Hong Kong Labour Department to check on the illegal employment of children. No discussions took place, however, on this aspect of employment at any of these meetings which concentrated instead on the exercise involving Professor Turner. The study by Professor Turner may have implications for the employment of children in that if his recommendations lead to effective trade unions in Hong Kong these unions could be expected to monitor child employ- ment.

4. As you know, the real key to the problem lies in extending the school leaving age and there are plans for this. You will be aware that the programme of labour legislation, enclosed with Mr Ardley's letter of 13 February 1979 to Mr McLaren, shows that plans are in hand for legislation to regulate the employment of children in all sectors of the Hong Kong economy pari passu with the raising of the school leaving age.

15 March 1979

AREshmast

HRG Hurst

CODE 18-7?

Overseas Labour Adviser.

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