TNAG-1609-FCO40-22131-Minutes-and-Hansards-of-the-Legislative-Council-of-Hong-Kong-1987 — Page 17

Employment of

children

in 24-hour

convenience stores

Question No.2-

Reply by the Hon, R.G.B. Bridge, OBE, JP, Secretary for Education & Manpower

to a question by the Hon. CHAN Ying-lua in the Legislative Council on 25 November 1987 2. Mr. CHAN-YING-LUN asked (in Cantonese):

on

Will` Government inform this Council whether it is aware that school age teenagers employed

in night shift 24-hour convenience stores are exposed to bad habits and triad influences, and whether it has, taken steps to enforce, in respect

convenience

the stores, Employment of Children Regulations which lay down the conditions for the' employment of children between the ages of 13 to 15 years?

of

SECRETARY FOR EDUCATION AND

MANPOWER:

Yes, Sir, the Government does realise that

young teenagers on night shift could be exposed to bad

influences. That is one reason why we

have

the

Employment of Children Regulations.

While the managements of convenience

stores

are generally law-abiding, the Commissioner of Police

has told me that, inevitably, some convenience stores

do attract bad

intimidation and robbery. Police officers on patrol

pay particular

targets

for

elements and are

to attention

such stores at night.

They keep in close touch with the staff and frequently

check the customers.