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seeable future so that we are guaranteed some measure of continuity in this important, somewhat specialized management work.
Turning lastly to the question of training, I would like to say that at present we have two officers undergoing specialist horticultural training in Australia. One of them is on a one-year course with an option to extend to two years, whilst the other is on a two-year course.
We are organizing a further course for the current financial year also in Australia. In terms of local horticultural training, I am afraid that the answer is that up to the present, we have no properly organized, centrally controlled training although it is proposed to establish this in the near future on the return of one of the officers who is at present in Australia. However, appropriate local in-service training of various other kinds is carried out, for example, by sending officers on to the Administration and Development Course organized by the Government Training Unit, or by organizing specialist courses such as that for members of the parkkeeping service, or the brief refresher instruction for life-guards, and it is intended to develop such training further as the work-load on the division permits. The department and the division are very much aware that the considerable and very successful expansion of the division's activities that has occurred in the past few years makes it essential for efficiency that opportunities for further training of the divisional staff should, whenever practicable, be seized when they occur.
MR. SALES: -Mr. Chairman, thank you for your full reply to my question. To what extent are your plans for staffing this Division related to the Select Committee's plans for the expansion of essential facilities for sport and recreation in Hong Kong?
CHAIRMAN: -As far as I am aware, Mr. SALES, in order to implement the programme that you have in mind, this special sort of arrangement for Amenities Officers, Amenities Assistants and Minor Staff has been devised and, as of course, we develop the various parks and playgrounds and other facilities in this Department, so we shall call upon the Secretariat to give us the necessary staff to run them within these categories.
MR. SALES: Thank you again, Mr. Chairman. I am aware that the re-organization of the Division is in keeping with the plans of the Select Committee. Now, the question I wish answered is, to what extent is enlistment of new officers for training by the Government in keeping with the implementation of the various programmes that have been drawn up for the construction of physical facilities?
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CHAIRMAN: -I think, Mr. SALES, that strictly speaking training is rather our responsibility. More specialized training certainly is our responsibility rather than the Government's and, as soon as we can get local staff trained, we will set up our own training programme. You know, we have a training unit within the Department at the moment, but it is geared to health inspectors and people like that rather than amenities staff, but we would hope to develop the amenity side of training.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, do you enlist staff in anticipation of needs, rather than await the opening of these recreational facilities before engaging staff?
CHAIRMAN: -The recruitment of staff, generally speaking, Mr. SALES, is geared to the dates on which the facilities become available, and it is usually "on the job" training rather than pre-vocational training that we give them.
MR. SALES: -Thank you. That is exactly the answer that I wanted, Mr. Chairman. It took me three supplementary questions to bring it out. Now, my point is this, would you consider recommending to the Establishment Officer that it would be in the public interest for staff to be recruited in anticipation of needs rather than when these facilities are open, then the staff are engaged and put into training?
CHAIRMAN: -I would like to consider that one very seriously, Mr. SALES, but as you know, there are problems about getting firm opening dates. For example, your three swimming pools. So you might have started and had to wait a year before the project became available. There is this problem, but I would like to think about this particular one, if I may.
MR. SALES: Mr. Chairman, may I congratulate you on citing the swimming pools as an example to suit Government's purpose. Now, the swimming pool is an unfortunate example, and I thought it should be swept under the carpet by the Government rather than to be brought out for public discussion. Now, my point is that it is in the public interest for Hong Kong people to be engaged and trained for a job that is bound to arise rather than when the need for them comes up. When Government goes about engaging them, there is a lapse of time and when they are put to work it is unfair to them because they have not been properly trained to do the work which they are called upon to do and were engaged for. So, will you please, Mr. Chairman, put as strongly as possible to the Government that we want some forward thinking in the matter of staffing rather than to follow the old method of having physical facilities, then nobody to manage them.
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