XN000022-1975-09-03 — Page 5

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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1975

INDUSTRIALISTS URGED TO EXPAND TRAINING FACILITIES

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THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR MR. TAN PRICE, TODAY CALLED ON INDUSTRY TO EXPAND ITS FACILITIES FOR TRAINING THE SKILLED MANPOWER HONG KONG NEEDS TO MAINTAIN ITS PROSPERITY.

HE SAID THE CHALLENGE OF THE FUTURE COULD ONLY BE MET BY A JOINT EFFORT OF GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY. THE GOVERNMENT WAS PLAYING ITS PART, AND IT WAS UP TO EMPLOYERS TO PLAY THEIRS.

MR. PRICE WAS SPEAKING DURING A VISIT TO THE KOWLOON MOTOR BUS COMPANY'S WORKSHOPS IN LAI CHI KOK, ON THE OCCASION OF A CONTRACT-SIGNING CEREMONY FOR A MASS INTAKE OF 82 NEW CRAFT AND TECHNICIAN APPRENTICES.

AFTER THE CEREMONY MR. PRICE, ACCOMPANIED BY ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER (INDUSTRIAL TRAINING) MR. T.Y. CHUI, WAS TAKEN ON À TOUR OF THE KMB WORKSHOPS BY THE COMPANY'S GENERAL MANAGER, MR. RONALD LOUEY.

THE TOUR WAS PART OF THE COMMISSIONER'S PROGRAMME OF VISITS TO VARIOUS HONG KONG INDUSTRIES TO KEEP HIMSELF BRIEFED FIRST-HAND. ON WORKING CONDITIONS,

MR. PRICE SAID WORK WAS NOW WELL ADVANCED ON THE PREPARATION OF A BILL TO PROMOTE APPRENTICE TRAINING AND SET STANDARDS FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF YOUNG PEOPLE AS APPRENTICES.

+THIS BILL. IF PASSED INTO LAW, WILL ENSURE THAT INDUSTRIES HAVE AN ADEQUATÉ SUPPLY OF SKILLED MANPOWER, AND IT WILL ALSO PROVIDE PROTECTION FOR DOTH EMPLOYER AND APPRENTICE, AND LAY DOWN THE STANDARDS OF SKILLS REQUIRED,+ HE SAID.

+IN ALL THIS, THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL AND ITS APPRENTICESHIP BOARD HAVE CONTRIBUTED ENORMOUSLY, AND HAVE RECEIVED MUCH ADVICE FROM THOSE DIRECTLY CONCERNED IN THE OPERATION OF APPRENTICESHIP SCHEMES.+

MR. PRICE SAID HE GREATLY APPRECIATED THE INITIATIVE AND EFFORTS OF THE MANAGEMENT OF KOWLOON MOTOR BUS IN TRAINING APPRENTICES TO HELP OVERCOME THE SHORTAGE OF SKILLED WORKERS IN THE AUTOMOBILE REPAIRS AND SERVICING INDUSTRY.

HE SAID A SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL HAD SHOWN THAT THE INDUSTRY NEEDED 600 NEW TECHNICIANS AND CRAFTSMEN EVERY YEAR.

/+TO MEET THIS ......