MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 1986
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THE TOTAL WORKFORCE OF THE INDUSTRY STOOD AT ABOUT 58 000, ALMOST THE SAME AS THAT IN 1983.
ACCORDING TO THE SURVEY, THE CONTRACTING BRANCH OF THE ELECTRICAL INDUSTRY EMPLOYED MORE TECHNOLOGISTS AND TECHNICIANS IN 1985 THAN THE PREVIOUS TWO YEARS, FROM 460 TO 630 FOR TECHNOLOGISTS AND FROM 1 400 TO 1 800 FOR TECHNICIANS.
THE BOARD ATTRIBUTED THE PHENOMENON TO THE COMMISSIONING OF MORE CONTRACTING WORKS OF COMPLEXITY AND SOPHISTICATION WHICH REQUIRED MORE TECHNOLOGISTS AND TECHNICIANS TO HANDLE.
HOWEVER, MANPOWER OF THE INDUSTRY'S MANUFACTURING BRANCH, WHICH AFTER A NOTABLE GROWTH IN EXPORT OF ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS, DECLINED FROM 25 000 IN 1983 TO 22 000 IN 1985 BECAUSE OF THE RECENT SLUGGISH ECONOMY IN MAJOR WORLD MARKETS.
THE ADOPTION OF AUTOMATION TO RAISE PRODUCTIVITY AND THE MOVING OF SOME FACTORIES TO THE SHENZHEN ECONOMIC ZONE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE CHEAPER OPERATING COST THERE ALSO REDUCED THE EMPLOYMENT SIZE IN THE MANUFACTURING BRANCH, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.
NEVERTHELESS, THE BOARD CONCLUDED THAT THE GROWING USE OF MODERN MACHINERY COUPLED WITH THE ANTICIPATED EXPANSION OF THE INDUSTRY AS A RESULT OF INCREASING BUILDING ACTIVITIES IN BOTH THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS WOULD BRING ABOUT A STEADY DEMAND FOR WELL-TRAINED TECHNICAL PERSONNEL FOR THE WHOLE INDUSTRY IN THE YEARS TO COME.
IT FORECAST THAT UP TO THE YEAR 1991 THE INDUSTRY WOULD NEED AT LEAST AN ADDITION OF 220 TECHNOLOGISTS, 380 TECHNICIANS AND 1 350 CRAFTSMEN ANNUALLY TO MEET ITS MANPOWER REQUIREMENT.
COPIES OF THE SURVEY REPORT ARE NOW FOR SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS SALES CENTRE AT $15 EACH.
APPLY EARLY FOR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
******
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC INTENDING TO TRAVEL ABROAD DURING THE COMING LUNAR NEW YEAR HOLIDAYS SHOULD APPLY FOR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS NOW, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE IMMIGRATION DEPARTMENT SAID TODAY.
THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE TRAVELLING OUTSIDE HONG KONG WOULD BE GREATLY INCREASED DURING THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. +IN ORDER TO AVOID LAST MINUTE RUSH, PEOPLE ARE ADVISED TO APPLY FOR PASSPORT AND CERTIFICATE OF IDENTITY WELL IN ADVANCE OF THE DATE ON WHICH THEY INTEND TO TRAVEL, HE SAID.
/+IT NORMALLY