TNAG-0873-FCO40-1083-Employment-of-children-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 43

Comments on the Report on "Child Labour in Hong Kong" by the Anti-Slavery Society for the Protection of Human Rights

Every now and then, there are criticisms from overseas against Hong Kong on the issue of child labour. Such criticisms are usually based on distorted information and outdated statistics. The report of the Anti-Slavery Society for the Protection of Human Rights is yet another example.

2.

Most of the information or statistics quoted in this report have been used in some other context before and most of them had been rebutted by either the government of Hong Kong or private individuals who spoke up voluntarily. We do not deny that child labour exists in Hong Kong but as isolated cases. What we want to refute is the extent of the problem presented by this Report.

3.

From the report by the Anti-Slavery for the Protection of Human Rights, it is evident that not only most of the information and statistics used are outdated, but it has also disregarded the recent progress made by Hong Kong towards eradicating child labour. Consequently my comments on this report can be divided into two major parts.

(I)

Distorted Information and Outdated Statistics

(a)

Extent of Child Labour

The report quoted Professor Robin Porter's figure that some 36,000 children between the age of 10 to 14 inclusive, were working and several thousands of them were working illegally.

This figure of 36,000 was derived from the 1971 Census Main Report some-8 years ago. Furthermore, it includes the 14 year-olds who were legally entitled to work (this age cohort alone totalled 97,635) and there is no evidence to suggest that they did not make up the great majority of the 36,000. These adolescents to their 18th birthday are defined as young persons (not children) whose employment in industry was permitted by the Factories and Industrial Undertakings Ordinance. Besides, the figure of 36,000 also included those who were self-employed, out-workers and unpaid family workers etc. whose employment is permissible under ILO Conventions and not regarded as illegal in Hong Kong.

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