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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1978
CHOICE OF A CAREER
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YOUNG PEOPLE SHOULD NOT DRIFT INTO WORK FOR WHICH THEY HAVE LITTLE INTEREST AND NO TALENT, SAID THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S CHIEF LABOUR OFFICER, MR. TSUI TIM-FOOK, TODAY (FRIDAY).
ADDRESS ING THE MUNSANG COLLEGE SPEECH DAY AUDIENCE, MR. TSUI SAID THE CHOICE OF A CAREER SHOULD BE BASED ON A PERSON'S OWN INCLINATIONS, PERSONALITY AND CAPABILITIES.
+NOT ALL OF US CAN BECOME A DOCTOR LAWYER, CHARTERED ACCOUNTANT, THE PRINCIPAL OF A SCHOOL OR A CELEBRATED ARTIST, HOWEVER HARD WE MAY TRY, HE SAID.
+ → ON THE CONTRARY, EVERYONE OF US HAS A REASONABLE CHANCE TO FIND SATISFACTION AND FULFILMENT IN A JOB TO WHICH WE ARE WELL SUITED. THUS YOU SHOULD FIRST IDENTIFY YOUR OWN INTEREST AND APTITUDE AND THEN DECIDE ON A CAREER WHICH MATCHES THESE QUALITIES.+
MR. TSUI POINTED OUT THAT HONG KONG'S RAPID ECONOMIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS HAD CREATED MANY OPPORTUNITIES FOR INTERESTING AND REWARDING CAREERS, BUT THIS ALSO DEMANDED SPECIALISED KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS.
TECHNICAL EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING, HE ADDED, WERE PRE-REQUISITES FOR EMBARKING ON GOOD CAREERS IN COMMERCE, INDUSTRY AND THE SERVICES.
MR. TSU! WARNED YOUNG PEOPLE NOT TO BE UNDULY INFLUENCED BY THE INITIAL PAY WHEN CONSIDERING A JOB.
+AS FAR AS IS PRACTICAL, IT IS THE PROSPECTS FOR ADVANCEMENT OR CAREER DEVELOPMENT THAT SHOULD BE YOUR PRIMARY CONCERN.+
MR. TSUI POINTED OUT THAT THE PREVIOUS DISTINCTION BETWEEN WHITE-COLLAR AND BLUE-COLLAR EMPLOYEES HAD LOST ITS SHARPNESS IN THE WAKE OF INDUSTRIAL ISATION.
HE SAID MANY OF HONG KONG'S YOUNG CONSTRUCTION WORKERS WERE FORMER SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, AND MANY OTHERS HAVE GONE INTO SERVICES SUCH AS HOTELS AND RESTAURANTS.
HE POINTED OUT THAT IN AN OPINION POLL HELD AT LAST YEAR'S LABOUR DEPARTMENT CAREERS EXHIBITION, ABOUT 30 PER CENT OF RESPONDENTS SAID THEY WOULD PREFER TO WORK IN INDUSTRY, ESPECIALLY ELECTRONICS, BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION, MACHINE SHOP AND METAL WORK ING.
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