§ Mr. Thorntonasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, what percentage of women and young persons employed in the garment-making industry in Hong Kong is working an eight- 304W hour day; and what percentage is working the legal maximum of 10 hours per day or 60 hours per week.
§ Mrs. HartComprehensive statistics are not available. Such information as is available indicates that about 4 per cent of women employed in the garment making industry work an eight-hour day, less than 1 per cent. between eight and 10 hours a day and the remainder a 10-hour day.
Young persons provide less than 1 per cent. of the total working force in the industry: approximately 15 per cent. of them work an 8-hour day.
§ Mr. Thorntonasked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, what is the number of court convictions in Hong Kong in each year since 1959 for employing women and young persons in excess of the legal maximum working hours; and what were the average fines imposed in each year.
§ Mrs. HartThe information given below relates to convictions for offences involving the employment of women and young persons in prohibited hours; during intervals for a meal or rest; outside authorised periods of employment and on rest days.
Year Number of convictions Average fines in H.K. dollars 1959 … … 158 156 1960 … … 1,372 163 1961 … … 1,310 111 1962 … … 1,649 84 1963 … … 1,773 83 1964 … … 2,176 51 1965 … … 1,733 75 1966 … … 885 78