§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the reasons for deleting information about paid employment for those aged under 14 years from the information published in the Hong Kong by-census of 1976.
§ M. LuardThis information was omitted as an indirect result of the Hong Kong Government's decision to adopt in the 1976 by-census the normal international practice of defining the economically active population to exclude children under 14.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is being taken in Hong Kong to commemorate 1979 as the International Year of the Child; what budget is allocated for this; and if any of these actions are directed towards eliminating child labour there.
§ Mr. LuardThere is no specific programme of action to mark the International Year of the Child in Hong Kong.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what powers exist in Hong Kong to enforce compulsory education up to the age of 14 years; in whom or what such powers are vested; if such powers have ever been invoked; if so, what are the details of prosecutions or other enforcement; and what is the establishment of staff charged with the enforcement of such powers.
§ Mr. LuardThe director of education has statutory powers to enforce compulsory attendance at school by children between 6 and 12. These powers will be extended to children aged 12 and 13 in September 1979 and aged 14 in September 1980. Enforcement is the responsibility of 98 district education inspectors assisted by social welfare department staff. There have only been two prosecutions since 1971 but 10,099 cases were investigated in the 1977–78 school year.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further machinery is contemplated 675W by the Hong Kong Government finally to eliminate all forms of child labour; and if he is satisfied with the progress of the Hong Kong Government to date.
§ Mr. LuardMy right hon. Friend is satisfied that the Hong Kong Government are making determined efforts to deal with this problem. Legislation is being prepared to extend the present prohibition on the employment of children in industrial undertakings to include the non-industrial sectors. The minimum age for full-time employment will be raised from 14 to 15. The Hong Kong labour inspectorate is being substantially expanded to enforce this new legislation.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will instruct the Hong Kong Government to introduce a statutory minimum fine at a high level for firms convicted of employing child labour.
§ Mr. LuardNo. It is important that magistrates should be free to adjust the fine to suit the circumstances of each case. The maximum penalty for the illegal employment of children in industrial undertakings was raised from HK$ 5,000 to HK$ 10,000 in 1977 and the average fine has risen fourfold since 1974.
§ Mr. Parryasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he has received from the Trades Union Congress on individual trades unions concerning the abuse of child labour in Hong Kong; and if he will comment on such proposals.