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Wednesday, February 20, 1974
MORE JOIN APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME
There was a 25 per cent increase in the number of young people
taking up approved apprenticeship schemes in Hong Kong last year, the
Labour Department's Senior Training Officer, Mr. Horace Knight, said today.
Most of the apprentices were placed with their employers by the
Industrial Training Division of the department.
**We have made very encouraging progress, particularly in terms
of increased co-operation from major industrial organisations, as well as
individual employers," Mr. Knight said.
"Last year, 923 school-leavers took up apprenticeships in industry
and government departments - 194 as technician apprentices and 729 as
craft apprentices. Of these 923, we ourselves placed 783.
"This compares with 425 out of 750 in 1972, so we're making
considerable headway."
Mr. Knight said that last year, the Industrial Training Division
had also helped 43 firms either to start apprentice training or to improve
their existing programmes along the lines of his division's formal training
scheme.
There are now 165 employers running training schemes for some 2,500
apprentices. The majority of them work in automobile repairs and servicing,
electronics, ship-building and repairs, and the building and textile industries.
"Our basic objectives where apprentice training is concerned are two-
fold to assist in building up an adequate supply of skilled manpower to
sustain industrial growth and increasing industrial sophistication; and to
create for our young people the training opportunities which lead to a career
in industry.
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