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to the Peak and Hill Districts. The Commissioners have been proved correct in their opinion that the real solution of the question lay in development of mechanical transport. I have, however, seen a number of children employed in stone break- ing and carrying at a quarry in Shaukiwan.

72. The Commissioners made certain recommendations including the compul- sory registration of children by employers; the prohibition of the employment of children under the age of eleven years (Chinese), that is, roughly ten years (European), in any factory or in any form of casual labour; limitation of the hours of work for children to fifty-four per week; the prohibition of their employment between the hours of 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. and for more than five hours consecutive- ly, and the provision of one day's rest in seven. It was also recommended that children should not be employed in glass factories, or in engineering works on the work of boiler chipping, or in dangerous trades generally, and that accommodation should be provided which could be used by workers during meal hours, and as a rest house for children taken to factories by their mothers. While local factory legislation in the last fifteen years has advanced far beyond the desiderata of the Commissioners only one such rest house for children is known and it is of the crudest. The provision of first aid appliances and the equipment of factories with approved sanitary conveniences was also advocated.

73 The Commissioners declared that their intention was to avoid introducing a series of factory regulations which would merely lead on the one hand to "squeeze” and on the other to police court prosecutions, and they recommended the appoint- ment of inspectors for all classes of child labour, the inspectors to be persons of standing, knowledge, tact, and sympathy. It was suggested that they should include Chinese representatives as well as British, women as well as men, and voluntary workers as well as government servants. (One of the Commissioners offered as a solution of the problem the compulsory education of Chinese children by government)

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74. As a result of these recommendations the Industrial Employment of Chil- dren Ordinance No. 22 of 1922 was passed which forbade the employment of children in any dangerous trade, under the age of ten years in any factory, and under the age of twelve years in carrying coal, or building material, or debris. child was defined as a person under the age of fifteen years. The owner and the manager of every factory were compelled to keep a running record of all children at any time employed in such factory. Hours of work were limited to nine hours per day and five hours continuously. One day's rest in every seven was to be allowed every child and employment of children between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. was prohibited. No child was to be allowed to carry any weight which was unreason- ably heavy having regard to the child's age and physical development or any load exceeding forty catties* in weight. The Ordinance also provided for the appoint- ment of a protector and inspectors of juvenile labour. The Secretary for Chinese Affairs became Protector of Juvenile Labour and one male and one female inspector were appointed. The female inspector retired after a short time and was replaced.

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75. The Factory (Accidents) Ordinance No. 3 of 1927 provided for the appointment of inspectors and assistant inspectors of factories. The Governor in Council was empowered to make regulations for the purpose of preventing accidents in factories. The existing inspector of juvenile labour undertook the work of factory inspection.†

78. Ordinance No. 24 of 1929, the Industrial Employment of Women, Young Persons and Children Amendment Ordinance, 1929, included women within the scope of the Industrial Employment of Children Ordinance, 1922, which was amended accordingly, in order to regulate the employment of women in certain industries.

* A catty is a pound and a third.

The Steam-boilers Ordinance No. 32 of 1909 providing for the periodical inspection of steam-boilers and prime movers has never been enforced owing to the lack of regulations and inspectors. Further legislation is under consideration.

The Gasholders Examination Ordinance, No. 1 of 1938, provides for the periodical examination of

Gasholders.