2
The report also mentioned an estimated figure of 25,000 children at work, based on a survey made by the Hong Kong Christian Industrial Committee. This survey was conducted in 1975 but that Committee refused to make available a copy of their report to the Labour Department, and they also refused to indicate where the factories which allegedly employed children were located.
If one
This survey by the HKCIC which was based on an extrapolation from a limited and biased sample is highly inaccurate, and the figure of 25,000 is therefore questionable, were to take a sample of the sick people in a hospital vis-a-vis the number of people in that hospital and then extrapolate for the whole of Hong Kong, one could obtain an inordinately high incidence of sickness in Hong Kong. It is believed that the CIC survey was conducted mainly in the resettlement (now known as Grade B) housing and squatter areas where the level of family income is relatively low. Those found at home are therefore the outworkers, homeworkers or the unemployed.
From the information we gathered and the results of inspections, we have evidence to support our view that child labour in industry is generally declining. This can be seen from the following statistics
Labour
Prosecution
No. of children
Year
inspections
cases
involved
1972
Not available
345
431
1973
75,984
215
286
1974
110,540
321
412
1975
124.803
306
350
1976
122,144
332
391
1977
117,566
459
568
1978
128,684
336
348
Regarding the statement quoted in the Report from Rear and England's book "Chinese Labour Under British Rule", we must say that this is also sadly out-of-date. It is almost like taking Dickens as a picture of present day conditions in Britain. At present, the two authors are writing a second edition and have sent their draft to the Labour Department for checking before publication.
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