TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1978
SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES CALLS FOR
MORE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE HANDICAPPED
***
THE SECRETARY FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, MR. E.P.HO TODAY CALLED ON ALL EMPLOYERS IN HONG KONG TO +SERIOUSLY CONSIDER+ HOW THEY CAN HELP THE GOVERNMENT PROMOTE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY HANDICAPPED AND THOSE AGED OVER 55 WHO HAVE LOST PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT.
HIS APPEAL CAME DURING A LUNCHTIME SPEECH TO PAST AND PRESENT CHAIRMEN AND DIRECTORS OF THE PO LEUNG KUK.
MR. HO SAID THAT ON FIRST ENCOUNTER WE TENDED TO JUDGE HANDICAPPED PEOPLE IN A NEGATIVE WAY: IN DOING SO WE FAILED TO SEE THAT THE MAJORITY HAD MANY MORE POSITIVE CHARACTERISTICS AND, IN USING THESE IN EMPLOYMENT, COULD CONTRIBUTE TO A STABLE SOCIETY FOR US ALL.
HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT WAS CURRENTLY LOOKING AT THREE WAYS IN WHICH IT COULD HELP THEM MORE EASILY TO LOCATE EMPLOYMENT.
+FIRSTLY, WE FEEL CONFIDENT THAT THE PRESENT VARIED SOURCES FOR PLACING SUCH PEOPLE IN EMPLOYMENT CAN BE STREAMLINED, THEREBY PROVIDING A MORE PROFESSIONAL AND EFFICIENT SERVICE, + MR HO SAID.
+SECONDLY, WE REALISE THAT THE PUBLIC SERVICE, AS A MAJOR EMPLOYER IN HONG KONG, MUST CONTINUE TO SET A GOOD EXAMPLE TO THE REST OF THE COMMUNITY IN LOCATING SUITABLE JOBS FOR THOSE WHO ARE PHYSICALLY OR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED.
+THIRDLY, VOCATIONAL TRAINING TO PREPARE THE LESS ABLE FOR EMPLOYMENT IS ALSO BEING IMPROVED.+
FOR EXAMPLE, THE REHABILITATION WHITE PAPER PROPOSED THAT THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION SHOULD TAKE OVER RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROVIDING VOCATIONAL TRAINING TO THE DISABLED FROM THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL WELFARE SO THAT THE SAME PROFESSIONAL SERVICES OFFERED TO THE ABLE BODIED WERE AVAILABLE TO THEM.
SPECIAL EDUCATION SERVICES FOR DISABLED AND MALADJUSTED SCHOOL CHILDREN WERE BEING EXPANDED AS RAPIDLY AS RESOURCES PERMITTED.
+THUS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OR SO, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PREPARE THE MORE VULNERABLE MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE MORE PROMINENTLY IN ORDINARY EMPLOYMENT.+
BUT ALL THESE EFFORTS WOULD FAIL IF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE DID NOT SUPPORT THE GOVERNMENT, MR. HO SAID.
+ONLY IF THERE IS AN EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU WILL WE SUCCEED. I THEREFORE APPEAL TO ALL EMPLOYERS IN HONG KONG TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER HOW THEY CAN HELP US IN PROMOTING JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
/+I WOULD