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The Kowloon Dock,

Mr. Chan Pak Pang, Sub-contractor for Ship-building.

The San Shing Lung Ginger Factory, Mong Kok Tsui.

3. Findings. As a result of these interviews it was possible to form certain general conclusions with regard to the conditions of child labour iu factories. :—

(1) The extent of the employment of children. The number of children employed varied according to the nature of the industry. For instance, in some factories, they are largely used because in such work as pack- ing their small and nimble fingers give them a decided advantage over adults. Not only is their out-put greater than that of adults, but when working on time rates, as they do in some factories, they receive smaller wages.

Apart from the question of economic advantage, children are also in some cases employed in factories as an act of grace. Some mothers who work in factories are said to be unable to find homes for their children during their hours of work, and are compelled to take them to the factories. In such cases odd-job work is given to the children, who work near to their mothers, and enter and leave the factories at the same hours.

Employment of this nature is therefore, more a result of social conditions than of factory necessities.

(2) The necessity for child labour.—It is significant that some of the witnesses, including some large employers of children, professed indifference to the presence of children in their factories, and stated that their removal would not cause them more than a temporary inconvenience. Many of them said that they continued to employ young children more in deference to the wishes of parents, than from any decided motive of economic advantage.

(3) Hours of labour. These appear to be universally excessive, and in few cases amounted to less than seventy (70) a week. One witness stated quite definitely that girls were working thirteen and three quarter (133) hours per day for thirteen (13) days consecutively, after which they had a day's rest. In other words they were working 96 hours and 824 hours in alternate weeks.

With regard to overtime the position is obscure. That overtime is frequently worked in factories is undoubted, but some witnesses seemed desirous of conveying the impression that the attendance of children during these hours was optional. In theory this may be correct, but in practice the business necessities of the factories and the pressure of needy parents must be such as to leave the children little or no choice. Children are also regularly employed on evening and night shifts. The hours of children employed on night shifts are similar to those worked by them during the daytime, and arrangements are also in force by which they may be changed from one shift to another. (4) Wages.-The most important point in connection with the wages of children is that they are paid almost entirely by piece rates. The few exceptions to this rule that were found were the Docks, certain Glass Factories and the Orient Tobacco Manufactory where the children are paid by time rates. In the last named factory the few children employed were paid at a rate of twelve (12) cents for a working day of nine (9) hours. The piece rates paid vary in different factories, though by working longer hours a child appears to be able in some cases to earn as much as thirty (30) cents a day. One girl was found who appeared to make as much as $15 a month.