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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1978
GOVERNMENT STEPS UP EFFORTS TO EMPLOY DISABLED PEOPLE
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THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO AMEND ITS RECRUITMENT PROCEDURES TO ENABLE MORE DISABLED PERSONS TO BE EMPLOYED IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.
A GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN SAID TODAY THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE HAD SENT A CIRCULAR TO HEADS OF ALL GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS STATING THAT SUITABLE AMENDMENTS WILL BE MADE TO RECRUITMENT PROCEDURES +TO INCREASE THE TEMPO OF RECRUITING DISABLED PERSONS CONSISTENT WITH GOVERNMENT POLICY.+
THE CIRCULAR POINTS OUT THAT THERE ARE AT PRESENT ABOUT 11,000 BLIND, DEAF OR PHYSICALLY DISABLED PERSONS OF WORKING AGE IN HONG KONG, OF WHOM 451 HAD JOBS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE ON APRIL 1.
IT SAYS: +IT IS GOVERNMENT POLICY TO PLACE THE DISABLED IN APPROPRIATE JOBS (1.E. IN THE CIVIL SERVICE) WHEREVER POSSIBLE. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S GENERAL POLICY TO INTEGRATE THE DISABLED INTO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH THE PROCESS OF VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EVENTUAL GAINFUL EMPLOYMENT IN THE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL SECTOR AS WELL AS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.+
TO ACHIEVE THIS, THE GOVERNMENT MUST CONTINUE TO GIVE A LEAD IN PLACING THE DISABLED IN APPROPRIATE JOBS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, RECOGNISING THAT THE ABILITIES OF MANY DISABLED PERSONS OUTWEIGHED THEIR DISABILITIES AND THAT ONLY IN PRODUCTIVE AND REMUNERATIVE EMPLOYMENT WOULD THEIR FULLEST POSSIBLE VOCATIONAL, SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC POTENTIAL BE REALISED.
+DISABLED EMPLOYEES HAVE MUCH TO OFFER. THEIR VERY LACK OF MOBILITY, COUPLED WITH THE FACT THAT THEIR EMPLOYMENT ENABLES THEM TO REGAIN SELF-RESPECT AND HENCE GENERATES CONSIDERABLE JOB SATISFACTION, MEANS THAT THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE HARD WORKING AND LOYAL.+
THE CIRCULAR URGES HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS TO MAKE +EVEN GREATER EFFORTS + TO EMPLOY MORE DISABLED PERSONS BY:
* ACTIVELY IDENTIFYING JOBS WHICH COULD BE FILLED BY
DISABLED PERSONS AND
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ARRANGING WITH THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR ANY NEW OFFICE BUILDINGS EITHER UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR IN THE PLANNING STAGE TO BE PROVIDED WITH NECESSARY FACILITIES IN ANTICIPATION OF THE EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED PERSONS, AND FOR NECESSARY ALTERATIONS TO EXISTING OFFICE PREMISES AND FITTINGS FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF DISABLED OFFICERS.
IT REMINDS HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS OF THE PROVISIONS OF A CIVIL SERVICE REGULATION REQUIRING DEPARTMENTS TO INFORM THE OFFICER-IN- CHARGE OF THE JOB PLACEMENT UNIT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF ANY VACANCY, RECRUITMENT TO WHICH IS NOT BY ADVERTISEMENT, IF THE RECRUITING DEPARTMENT CONSIDERS THAT THE DUTIES OF SUCH A VACANT POST COULD BE UNDERTAKEN BY DISABLED PERSONS.
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