MONDAY, APRIL 2, 1984
3
+ INDIRECTLY, THIS EXPANSION WILL CREATE ADDITIONAL DEMAND FOR SKILLED MANPOWER IN THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY, BECAUSE MOST ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS HAVE SIGNIFICANT PLASTIC CONTENTS, MR DENNIS TING, CHAIRMAN OF THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD, SAID.
BUT MR TING ADDED THAT THE CURRENT TRAINING EFFORTS WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TO MEET THE FUTURE MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS OF THE INDUSTRY.
THE TRAINING BOARD URGED EMPLOYERS TO START A TRAINING PROGRAMME SET OUT IN THE REPORT TO ENSURE A STEADY SUPPLY OF TECHNICAL WORKFORCE.
THE TRAINING CENTRE FOR THE PLASTICS INDUSTRY NOW BEING SET UP WILL HAVE A CAPACITY FOR TRAINING 100 CRAFTSMEN AND 400 OPERATIVES EACH YEAR WHEN IT BECOMES OPERATIONAL LATER THIS YEAR.
THE SURVEY REPORT, IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE, IS NOW ON SALE AT $9 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE.
URBAN AREA LAND LICENSEES TO PAY RENT
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HOLDERS OF CROWN LAND LICENCES IN THE URBAN AREA WILL START PAYING RENT FROM NEXT YEAR JUST AS THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES HAVE BEEN DOING FOR SEVERAL YEARS.
A LANDS DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID THAT AS A RESULT ABOUT 350 CROWN LAND LICENCES WOULD BE CONVERTED INTO SHORT-TERM TENANCIES.
AT PRESENT, THE LICENCES ARE ISSUED TO INDUSTRIAL AND COMMERCIAL OPERATORS, WHO PAY MINIMAL FEES FOR THE LICENCES ON SITES WHICH ARE NOT REQUIRED IMMEDIATELY FOR DEVELOPMENT.
+THE FEES DO NOT REFLECT THE VALUE OF THE LAND BEING OCCUPIED, + THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
HE SAID CHARGING RENT IN THE URBAN AREA HAD BEEN DELAYED DUE TO STAFF SHORTAGES, BUT THE LANDS DEPARTMENT NOW ENVISAGED THAT IT WOULD BE ABLE TO UNDERTAKE THE WORK INVOLVED IN THE CONVERSIONS.
+ IN ORDER TO ENSURE EQUITABLE TREATMENT FOR LICENSEES, ALL CONVERSIONS WILL START FROM JANUARY 1 NEXT YEAR, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
+LICENSEES WILL BE GIVEN AT LEAST SIX MONTHS' NOTICE BEFORE THIS HAPPENS,+ HE ADDED.
/TO AVOID