TNAG-0937-FCO40-1156-Visits-of-Sir-Murray-MacLehose--Governor-of-Hong-Kong--to-th-1980 — Page 201

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INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS

9. The Hong Kong Government are concerned over this problem,

and are taking steps to bring the rate of accidents down.

There are indications that these efforts are having some effect.

MATERNITY BENEFITS

10.

Proposals made by various organisations concerning additional benefits (and in particular paid maternity leave)

are being considered as part of the continuing review of

labour and social provisions in Hong Kong.

YAU MA TI BOAT PEOPLE

11. These people are entitled to apply for public housing

in the normal way, but there are no grounds for allowing them priority over equally deserving applicants living in

unsatisfatory conditions on land.

CHILD LABOUR

12. I would refer the honourable Gentleman to the replies given on the 24th of July 1979 to the honourable Member for Liverpool, Mk1 2

~210/2 (1979) en-iscscotland Exchange. The replies gave full details of legislation regulating the employment of children in Hong Kong, the current and projected establishments of the Labour and Factory Inspectorates and, for the years 1974 to 1979 the numbers of prosecutions under the law, the numbers of children involved

and the total fines imposed. All this shows that the Hong Kong Government recognise the seriousness of this problem, and are making determined efforts to deal with it.