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SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1980
HK SEAMEN'S REPUTATION ON THE RISE
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HONG KONG SEAMEN HAVE RESTORED THEIR REPUTATION OF BEING HARD-WORKING, CAPABLE AND DEPENDABLE, FOLLOWING A SHARP DECREASE IN THE NUMBER OF DESERTIONS IN RECENT YEARS.
THE DESERTION RATE OF LOCAL SEAMEN DROPPED TO AN AVERAGE OF 18 CASES PER MONTH LAST YEAR, COMPARED WITH OVER 100 A MONTH DURING THE BAD YEARS BETWEEN 1968 AND 1971.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE SEAMEN'S RECRUITING OFFICE (SRO), MARINE DEPARTMENT SAID THE ENCOURAGING TREND ALSO HELPED SHIPPING COMPANIES RECRUITING LOCALLY TO REGAIN CONFIDENCE IN THE RELIABILITY AND EFFICIENCY OF OUR SEAMEN.
HE ATTRIBUTED THE TREND TO INCREASED AVAILABILITY OF LOCAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES, SCARCITY OF JOBS ABROAD, IMPROVED WELFARE AND WORKING CONDITIONS ON SHIPS AND TOUGHER PENALTIES.
UNDER THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (RECRUITMENT OF SEAMEN) ORDINANCE, THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SRO HAS THE POWER TO SUSPEND A SEAMAN'S REGISTRATION IF HE HAS REASON TO BELIEVE THAT THE SEAMAN HAS DESERTED HIS SHIP OR FAILED TO JOIN HIS SHIP.
PLAYING THE ROLE OF IMPARTIAL MIDDLE MAN+, THE SRO OPERATES A CENTRALISED REGISTRATION SYSTEM TO PROVIDE, ON THE ONE HAND, SHIPPING COMPANIES WITH SEAMEN WHO CÁN BEST MEET THEIR JOB DEMANDS, AND ON THE OTHER, SEAMEN WITH THE BEST JOBS FITTING THEIR ABILITIES.
LAST YEAR, A TOTAL OF 21 793 SEAMEN WERE EMPLOYED AS COMPARED WITH 23 138 IN 1978.
THE SLIGHT DECLINE, THE SPOKESMAN EXPLAINED, WAS DUE TO THE ABSORPTION OF MANPOWER BY THE LOCAL CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND KEEN COMPETITION FROM OTHER SEAMEN OVERSEAS,
STAFF OF THE SRO ALSO REGULARLY INSPECT SHIPPING COMPANIES' RECORDS TO ENSURE THAT THEIR SEAMEN ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE IR CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT AND RIGHTS AND THAT THE SHIPPING COMPANIES ARE COMPLYING WITH THE REGULATIONS LAID DOWN BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT.
SHA TIN VILLAGERS TO GET NEW HOUSES
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ANOTHER EIGHT FAMILIES LIVING IN A SHA TIN VILLAGE REQUIRED TO BE CLEARED FOR NEW TOWN DEVELOPMENT ARE TO MOVE INTO HOUSES SOON UNDER THE GOVERNMENT'S VILLAGE REMOVAL SCHEME.
THE FAMILIES LIVE IN PAT TZE WO VILLAGE WHICH IS TO MAKE WAY FOR EXTENSION OF THE FO TAN INDUSTRIAL AREA,
THIS WILL