XN000022-1975-02-03 — Page 4

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MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1975

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PRENTICES TOLD OF BIG OPPORTUNITIES

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THE HEAD OF THE WATERWORKS OFFICE, MR. BILL TUCKER, TODAY SPOKE OF THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES AND CHANCES CONFRONTING ANY WELL- TRAINED YOUNG MAN EMBARKING ON A TECHNICAL CAREER IN HONG KONG,

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MR. TUCKER, WHO IS PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT WATER ENGINEER, WAS PRESENTING PASSING-OUT CERTIFICATES TO 43 CRAFT APPRENTICES WHO HAVE JUST COMPLETED FOUR-YEAR COURSES OF TRAINING WITH THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

HE SAID IT WAS BECOMING INCREASINGLY APPARENT IN HONG KONG THAT SKILLED MANPOWER RESOURCES WERE GETTING SCARCER IN RELATION TO DEMAND AND HAD TO BE PUT TO THE MOST EFFECTIVE USE.

+A CONSEQUENTIAL DEVELOPMENT HAS BEEN THE INCREASING SOPHISTICATION OF PLANT AND EQUIPMENT TO MINIMISE THE DEMAND FOR THIS SCARCE RESOURCE. AS A RESULT, THE DEGREE OF SKILL FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION MUST RISE ACCORDINGLY TO MEET THE NEW DEMANDS.

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+FURTHERMORE, THE FUTURE PROSPERITY OF HONG KONG WILL MATERIALLY DEPEND ON DEVELOPING ITS INDUSTRIAL CAPACITY WHILE

IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF ITS GOODS. THIS WILL PRESENT A CHALLENGE AND CREATE JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRAINED MEN LIKE YOURSELVES, WHOSE INDUSTRY AND OUTLOOK MAKES THEM READY AND WILLING TO SEIZE SUCH OPPORTUNITIES.+

DURING THEIR FOUR-YEAR COURSES, THE APPRENTICES HAVE BEEN GIVEN INTENSIVE PRACTICAL TRAINING IN WORKSHOPS OF THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE AND THE WATERWORKS OFFICE.

THEY WILL HAVE THE CHANCE OF JOBS IN EITHER OF THESE TWO OFFICES, IN THE FIRE SERVICES DEPARTMENT OR WITH THE KOWLOON AND CANTON RAILWAY.

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NOTE TO EDITORS

COPIES OF A PHOTOGRAPH SHOWING CRAFT APPRENTICES RECEIVING INSTRUCTION IN WELDING AT P.W.D.'S ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL OFFICE WORKSHOP AT WHITFIELD BARRACKS, KOWLOON, ARE NOW AVAILABLE FOR COLLECTION FROM THE GIS PRESS ROOM, 6TH FLOOR BEACONSFIELD HOUSE.

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