3.
-
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1980
HE SUGGESTED THAT THE PRESENT PROCEDURES AND ACTIVITIES BE STREAMLINED AND CENTRALISED UNDER ONE STATUTORY BODY SIMILAR TO THAT OF THE CANADIAN WORKMAN'S COMPENSATION BOARD.
+THIS BOARD NOT ONLY ADMINISTERS ITS OWN INSURANCE AND COMPENSATION SCHEMES BUT IS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE TREATMENT AND REHABILITATION OF THE INJURED WORKERS.+
COMMENTING ON THE PROVISION OF KERBS ALONG PAVEMENTS IN CENTRAL FOR THE CROSSING OF WHEEL-CHAIR PERSONS, DR FANG HOPED THAT THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS WOULD AMEND THE BUILDINGS ORDINANCE TO GIVE BUILDERS THE PRIVILEGE OF AN INCREASE IN THE BUILDING VOLUME, WHEN THEY PROVIDE ACCESS FOR WHEEL CHAIRS SUCH AS RAMPS, WIDER CORRIDORS AND BIGGER TOILETS.
+THIS WILL BE A MOST FITTING GESTURE DURING THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF DISABLED PERSONS IN 1981, + HE SAID.
GOVERNMENT +U TURN IN TRAINING POLICY DEPLORED
*****
UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, DR THE HON FRANCIS TIEN, TOOK THE GOVERNMENT TO TASK TODAY FOR MAKING A TURNABOUT IN ITS POLICY ON INDUSTRIAL TRAINING.
HE SAID A REGRETTABLE FEATURE OF ALL THIS WAS THAT THOSE WHO SUPPORTED, OR INDEED ENCOURAGED THE GOVERNMENT ON ONE POLICY, FOUND ANOTHER WAY WAS TO BE DEVELOPED.
J
+FOR RATHER THAN A LEVY, THE FINANCING OF INDUSTRIAL TRAINING WILL BE A CHARGE ON GENERAL REVENUE.
+A NEW TRAINING AUTHORITY WOULD TAKE ON A ROLE SIMILAR TO THE UNIVERSITY AND POLYTECHNIC GRANTS COMMITTEE FINANCED WITH A GOVERNMENT SUBVENTION IN THE FORM OF A BLOCK GRANT.+
DR TIEN RECALLED THAT DURING THE 1970'S THE GOVERNMENT APPEARED TO ACCEPT A POLICY ON INDUSTRIAL TRAINING WHICH AT THAT TIME +SEEMED WISE TO MANY HONOURABLE MEMBERS+.
IT IS NOW CLEAR THAT TRAINING IS A VITAL AND AN IMPERATIVE PART OF OUR INDUSTRIAL PRESENT AND FUTURE, AND NO ONE WOULD DENY THIS, HE SAID.
+MOST COUNTRIES BELIEVE THAT INDUSTRY SHOULD BE PREPARED TO PAY A VARIABLE LEVY IN ORDER TO TRAIN PERSONS IN THE VARIOUS FIELDS OF INDUSTRY TO WHICH THEY BELONG.
+ON GROUNDS OF PRINCIPLE, I AM ON RECORD AS HAVING ACCEPTED THIS UNIVERSALLY-ADHERED-TO PRACTICE.+
THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT ALSO FELL IN WITH THIS LINE OF THINKING, DR TIEN CONTINUED, AND HAD FORMULATED A GENERAL GUIDELINE WHEREEY EDUCATION WAS THE PROPER PROVINCE OF GOVERNMENT WHILE TRAINING WAS THE PROPER PROVINCE OF INDUSTRY.
/IT BAS