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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1980
*WE HOPE PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO MAKE FULL USE OF THESE FACILITIES IN THE VARIOUS DISTRICTS DURING THE DAY, HE SAID.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE HOTLINE WOULD BE PARTICULARLY USEFUL IN CASES WHERE THE CALLER WISHED TO URGENTLY SEEK PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE ON FAMILY OR PERSONAL PROBLEMS.
IN CASES LIKE THIS, IMMEDIATE SERVICES CAN BE PROVIDED OVER THE PHONE, TO BE FOLLOWED UP BY LONGER-TERM ASSISTANCE WHERE NECESSARY, HE SAID.
THE HOTLINE WILL BE PHYSICALLY MANNED BETWEEN 9 AM AND 10 PM FROM MONDAY TO SATURDAY, AND BETWEEN 1 PM AND 10 PM ON SUNDAYS AND PUBLIC HOLIDAYS. MACHINE-RECORDINGS WILL OPERATE OUTSIDE
THESE PERIODS.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID PEOPLE USING THE HOTLINE AFTER 10 PM SHOULD LEAVE THEIR NAME, TELEPHONE NUMBER AND ADDRESS SO THAT THEIR ENQUIRIES COULD BE FOLLOWED UP THE FOLLOWING MORNING.
SHOULD THERE BE CASES WHICH REQUIRE VERY URGENT ATTENTION DURING THE NIGHT, A REPORT MAY BE MADE TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION, HE ADDED.
REPORT SOON ON SEAMEN TRAINING
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THE HONG HONG MERCHANT NAVY TRAINING BOARD WILL REPORT TO THE GOVERNMENT AT THE END OF THE YEAR PLANS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE 1978 CONVENTION ON THE STANDARDS OF TRAINING, CERTIFICATION AND WATCH-KEEPING OF SEAFARERS.
THE CONVENTION, THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL LEGAL INSTRUMENT ON MARITIME TRAINING, REPRESENTS A MAJOR ATTEMPT BY THE INTER- GOVERNMENTAL MARITIME CONSULTATIVE ORGANISATION (IMCO) TO INTRODUCE STANDARDS OF TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS WHICH WILL BE INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTABLE AND APPLICABLE.
IMCO IS THE SPECIALISED AGENCY OF THE UNITED NATIONS, EXCLUSIVELY CONCERNED WITH SHIPPING AND MARITIME MATTERS.
A SPOKESMAN FOR THE MARINE DEPARTMENT SAID MARITIME TRAINING FOR LOCAL SEAMEN SHOULD BE GIVEN GREATER IMPORTANCE.
+WE SHOULD HAVE A PROPER TRAINING SCHOOL FOR LOCAL SEAMEN AND IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SHIPOWNERS TO ENSURE THAT SEAMEN GET AMPLE JOB OPPORTUNITIES, HE ADDED.
AT PRESENT, TRAINING SCHOOLS FOR LOCAL SEAMEN ARE RUN BY CHARITABLE ORGANISATIONS AND PRIVATE FIRMS.
THE MAIN TASK OF THE BOARD, ESTABLISHED IN 1977, IS TO ASSESS THE TRAINING NEEDS OF HONG KONG SEAMEN AND ENSURE THAT THEY ARE FULFILLED.
THE BOARD