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FRIDAY, MAY 14, 1976
EMPLOYERS URGED TO USE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE
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LADY MACLEHOSE TODAY URGED EMPLOYERS TO MAKE FULL USE OF THE FACILITIES OFFERED BY THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE.
SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE EXHIBITION, SHE SAID THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE EXTENDED A VERY WELCOME HELPING HAND TO THE HANDICAPPED IN ORDER THAT THEY MIGHT BECOME ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY.
HOWEVER, LADY MACLEHOSE ADDED, THE TASK OF ASSISTING THE HANDICAPPED TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT SHOULD NOT BE REGARDED BY THE PUBLIC AS CHARITY BUT AS AN INVESTMENT IN THE WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY.
FOLLOWING IS THE FULL TEXT OF THE SPEECH BY LADY MACLEHOSE:
+ IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO BE WITH YOU HERE TODAY AT THIS EXHIBITION ORGANISED BY THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OF THE HONG KONG COUNCIL OF SOCIAL SERVICE.
+WE LIVE IN A HIGHLY COMPETITIVE AND RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD AND ALL OF US MUST HAVE EXPERIENCED, AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER, THE UNCERTAINTY AND FRUSTRATION OF SECURING SUITABLE EMPLOYMENT. THESE DIFFICULTIES CAN BE ESPECIALLY DAUNTING FOR THE HANDICAPPED.
+THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE EXTENDS A VERY WELCOME HELPING HAND TO THESE PEOPLE IN ORDER THAT THEY MAY BECOME ACTIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY, BUT IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THIS VERY WORTHWHILE TASK OF ASSISTING THE HANDICAPPED TO SECURE EMPLOYMENT, WHICH IS ESSENTIALLY ONE OF HELPING THEM TO HELP THEMSELVES, SHOULD NOT BE REGARDED BY THE PUBLIC AS CHARITY BUT AS AN INVESTMENT IN THE WELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITY. SOCIALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS ARE CAPABLE OF PRODUCTIVE WORK AND OF FULLY EARNING THEIR KEEP- THEY SHOULD BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO DO so.
+DURING THE PAST YEAR I UNDERSTAND THAT 37% OF THOSE WHO SOUGHT ASSISTANCE FROM THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE SUCCEEDED IN FINDING WORK. THIS IS AN ENCOURAGING IMPROVEMENT ON THE PREVIOUS YEAR'S PLACEMENT RATE BUT WITH THE UPTURN IN OUR ECONOMY AND DEMANDS FOR LABOUR, CLEARLY MORE OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE HANDICAPPED TO BE GAINFULLY EMPLOYED. I WOULD URGE EMPLOYERS TO BEAR IN MIND THIS SOURCE OF MANPOWER AND TO MAKE FULL USE OF THE FACILITIES OFFERED BY THE EMPLOYMENT SERVICE.
+1 NOW HAVE MUCH PLEASURE IN DECLARING THIS EXHIBITION OPEN.+
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