TNAG-0873-FCO40-1083-Employment-of-children-in-Hong-Kong-1979 — Page 49

5

(d)

- 7 -

In order to deter factory proprietors from employing children, the maximum fine for offenders was raised from HK$5,000 to HK$10,000 on 6 May 1977. Consequently the general level of fines for child employment offenders has increased significantly since then and there were four cases where the offenders were fined $5,000 or over for employing children.

The following statistics show the gradually increasing level of fines for offences involving employment of children in industrial undertakings since 1972

Year

Average fine per convicted case

Average fine

per child illegally employed

1972

$373.8

$299.3

1973

$464.0

$348.5

1974

$289.0

$225.0

1975

$331.9

$290.1

1976

$542.8

$460.8

1977

$1095.8

$885.3

1978

$954.0

$930.6

1979

$1086.2

$1086.2

4.

(e)

(up to June)

The reference to "the attitude of the courts" shows an ignorance of a basic principle of English justice, applicable in Hong Kong, of the independence of the Judiciary from the Executive.

The Education (Amendment) Ordinance 1979 has extended compulsory education. of Education will now enforce school attendance

The Director to the new age(s) i.e. with effect from

1 September 1979, to children under the age of 14 and from 1 September 1980 to children under the age of 15. Early action will also be taken to investigate cases of drop-outs as quickly as possible so as to ascertain the reasons for the child's absence from school.

The above covers the more significant aspects of progress achieved during the past few years relating to the efforts made by Hong Kong Government in eliminating child employment.

Social Services Branch

Hong Kong

October 1979

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