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EMPLOYMENT
A six-week training course for safety officers in industry was held. The centre also conducted a special course on accident prevention for those under the age of 21 partic- ipating in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. The centre's officers continued to inspect government workshops and maintained a close liaison with their staff in the promotion of safety at work.
The centre maintains a permanent display of personal protective items and machinery fitted with a variety of safety guards. Models of construction sites depicting safe working conditions were added to the items on display. Booklets and posters on industrial safety are also prepared by the centre.
The local employment service operates a free placement service from five offices. During the year, the service registered 45,791 job-seekers, recorded 4,929 employers' orders, and helped 3,441 workers find employment.
In December 1973, a special register was established along the lines of the 'Pro- fessional and Executive Register' maintained by employment exchanges in Britain. It offers employment assistance to graduates of local universities as well as Hong Kong graduates in overseas universities and post-secondary colleges seeking to return to Hong Kong for employment. During the year, 461 graduates were registered and 141 employers' orders were received. A total of 43 graduates found employment through the assistance of the service.
The youth employment advisory service continued to expand its services to students and young people by providing information on careers and guidance in the choice of careers. During the year, 746 careers talks were given in 156 schools and 23 youth centres to some 45,000 students and youngsters, compared with 395 talks in 109 schools and youth centres to 21,000 students in 1973.
The service also organised and participated in careers seminars and exhibitions providing careers information to students, teachers, parents and interested individuals. During the year, it organised six seminars and took part in 12 others. The third careers exhibition was held at the City Hall from December 20 to December 29, some 15 exhibitors from commerce, industry and government took part in the exhibition which attracted more than 93,000 visitors. The service began organising careers programmes for several secondary schools at the beginning of the year. These programmes provide for a series of general talks on principles of choosing a career, special talks by guest speakers on specific trades and industries and visits to related establishments.
The Contracts for Overseas Employment Ordinance controls contracts of employ- ment entered into in Hong Kong between overseas employers and manual workers, including domestic servants but excluding certain specific categories, proceeding over- seas for employment. During the year 719 contracts were attested.
Permission to work in Britian is given by the United Kingdom Department of Employment. Work permits are issued to applicants through the Immigration Depart-
ment.
Under the Employment (Amendment) Ordinance 1973 which came into force on January 1, all profit-making employment agencies, unless in an excluded class