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The Committee has noted the information provided by the Government in reply to its earlier comments.

1. Over a number of years the Committee has been referring to sections 13 to 18 of the Chief's Authority Act (Cap. 128) according to which able-bodied male persons between 18 and 45 years of age may be required to perform any work or service in connection with the conservation of natural resources for up to 60 days in any year. On many occasions it expressed the hope that these sections would be either repealed or amended so as to meet the criteria for "minor communal services" which are exempted from the scope of the Convention under Article 2, paragraph 2(e).

The Committee previously noted the Government's intention to repeal or to amend sections 13 to 18 of the Act, as it was recognized that in law the aforementioned sections are not in full conformity with the Convention. The Committee notes that, in its latest report received in September 1996, the Government reaffirms its intention to repeal the Chief's Authority Act and to replace it with the Administrative Officer's Authority Act. The Committee hopes that the new Act will be adopted in the near future and that it will be in conformity with the Convention. It requests the Government to supply a copy of the Administrative Officer's Authority Act, as soon as it is adopted.

2. The Committee has noted the Government's statement in its previous report that the Government is not aware of any cases of forced labour in so far as soil conservation and on-farm tree planting are concerned. It has also noted the provisions governing the Presidential Commission on Soil Conservation and Afforestation, as well as a report on the results achieved by the Commission supplied by the Government.