XN000022-1976-03-19 — Page 5

FRIDAY, MARCH 19, 1976

PRICE TOURS ZUNG FU SERVICE CENTRE

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THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. IAN PRICE, TODAY (FRIDAY) VISITED THE QUARRY BAY SERVICE CENTRE OF THE ZUNG FU COMPANY LTD. AS PART OF HIS PROGRAMME TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE WITH TRAINING, EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL CONDITIONS IN HONG KONG.

MR. PRICE SAID HE WAS PARTICULARLY IMPRESSED BY THE EFFORTS DEVOTED BY THE MANAGEMENT TO THEIR APPRENTICE TRAINING PROGRAMME.

AT PRESENT, THERE ARE 58 APPRENTICES UNDER TRAINING AT THE COMPANY'S THREE REPAIR AND SERVICE CENTRES AT QUARRY BAY, KWUN TONG AND ABERDEEN.

APPRENTICE TRAINING STARTED IN JULY 1970 ALONG THE LINES OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S PROPOSED APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME.

MR. PRICE SAID THAT A MANPOWER SURVEY CONDUCTED IN 1974 INDICATED THAT THE AUTOMOBILE REPAIR AND SERVICING INDUSTRY NEEDED TO TRAIN ABOUT 600 ADDITIONAL CRAFTSMEN ANNUALLY TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF THE INDUSTRY.

+THE BEST WAY FOR A FIRM TO ENSURE IT HAS A SUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF SKILLED CRAFTSMEN IS TO TRAIN ITS OWN, HE ADDED.

MR. PRICE SAID THIS SORT OF INVESTMENT LED TO BETTER SERVICE, INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY, COMPETITIVENESS AND PROFITABILITY.

TURNING TO THE NEED FOR APPRENTICES TO UNDERTAKE RELATED TECHNICAL EDUCATION, MR. PRICE SAID: THE GOVERNMENT HAS MADE AVAILABLE THE NECESSARY TECHNICAL COURSES IN TECHNICAL INSTITUTES. IT IS NOW UP TO EMPLOYERS TO USE, FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT, THE TECHNICAL EDUCATION FACILITIES PROVIDED.+

MR. PRICE SAID: +EMPLOYERS OUGHT TO BE THOROUGHLY AWARE OF THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE WHICH WAS ENACTED IN FEBRUARY THIS YEAR AND WHICH WILL COME INTO EFFECT LATER THIS YEAR. IF THEY HAVE QUERIES, THEY SHOULD APPROACH THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S INDUSTRIAL TRAINING DIVISION.

+ THE MAIN PURPOSE OF THE ORDINANCE IS TO ENSURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGE OF 14 AND 18 WORKING IN CERTAIN DESIGNATED TRADES WILL BE PROPERLY TRAINED FOR THE BENEFIT NOT ONLY OF THE YOUNG PEOPLE THEMSELVES BUT ALSO OF THE INDUSTRY IN WHICH THEY WORK.+

MR. PRICE WAS ACCOMPANIED ON THE VISIT BY MR. HORACE KNIGHT, ASSISTANT COMMISSJONER (INDUSTRIAL TRAINING), MR. C.P. MORRE, MR. R.G. LEE, BOTH DIRECTORS OF THE COMPANY, AND MR. D.E. YOUNG, SERVICE MANAGER.