Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1991, published 78th ILC session (1991)

Abolition of Forced Labour Convention, 1957 (No. 105) - Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Ratification: 1997)

The Committee notes the indication by the Government in its report that the proposed Hong Kong Merchant Shipping (Seafarers) Bill is expected to be enacted in early 1991, and that the proposed legislation contains no provisions similar to those in sections 221 to 225 of the United Kingdom Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, as applied to Hong Kong, and will in effect repeal those sections. It also notes that in practice, as far as the record can be ascertained, the provisions of sections 221 to 225 of the 1894 Act have never been invoked. The Committee hopes that merchant shipping legislation will thus soon be brought into conformity with the Convention, and that the Government will indicate the measures taken.