9.88 One Engineer returned to duty after completing a 9-month attachment to consulting engineering firms and local government in the UK, and one Senior Engineer returned after completing a 2-month professional visit to the United States to see developments in transportation at the invitation of the Government of the U.S.A. Four other officers proceeded on study leave to undertake training courses in the U.K.
9.89 One Assistant Engineer resumed duty after successfully completing a two-year course in Civil Engineering at the University of Hong Kong, whilst another continued to attend the course at the University.
9.90 A training course to assist Engineering Assistants (Traffic) Class III to prepare for their promotion examination was conducted. The course covered the fundamentals of traffic engineering, transportation surveys, and statistics.
9.91 Sixteen Engineering graduates of the University of Hong Kong employed under agreement as apprentice engineers in accordance with the Regulations of the Institution of Civil Engineers were rotated amongst the various divisions of the office for practical training.
Welfare
9.92 Quarterly meetings of the Joint Staff Discussion Groups continued between representatives of the management and the staff of the office at divisional level, at which problems and suggestions of mutual interest were discussed and management policies explained.
9.93 A series of outings to Cheung Chau Island was organized jointly for the staff of the office and the Civil Engineering Office in September and October. A total of more than 1,200 persons from the office took part.
9.94 Christmas parties were held on both sides of the harbour for the staff of the office, and the functions proved highly successful.
9.95 An informal gathering and a cocktail party were arranged during the year for all professional officers of the office.
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