XN000022-1976-07-16 — Page 3

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FRIDAY, JULY 16, 1976

APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE TO BECOME EFFECTIVE ON MONDAY

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TWENTY-THREE TRADES ARE SPECIFIED AS DESIGNATED TRADES UNDER THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE 1976 IN TODAY'S GAZETTE. IT WAS ALSO ANNOUNCED THAT THE ORDINANCE AND ITS SUBSIDIARY REGULATIONS WILL COME INTO EFFECT ON JULY 19.

THE TRADES SPECIFIED ON THE ADVICE OF THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL BY THE GOVERNOR ARE :

VEHICLE MECHANIC VEHICLE ELECTRICIAN- VEHICLE PANEL BEATER/ BODY BUILDER VEHICLE PAINTER- CONSTRUCTION PLANT MECHANIC- CLOTHING MACHINE MECHANIC KNITTING MACHINE MECHANIC ELECTRICAL FITTER ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES SERVICE MECHANIC CABLE JOINTER (POWER) = OVERHEAD LINESMAN LIFT ELECTRICIAN- LIFT MECHANIC- REFRIGERATION/AIR-CONDITIONING MECHANIC RADIO/TV MECHANIC= MOULD AND DIE MAKER AND REPAIRER PRINTING COMPOSITOR PROCESS CAMERA OPERATOR LITHO OFFSET PLATE-MAKER- PRINTING MACHINE OPERATOR (LETTER PRESS)- PRINTING MACHINE OPERATOR (LITHO OFFSET)= BOOKBINDER- AND TEXTILE MECHANIC.

THE ACTING COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR MR. NEIL HENDERSON SAID THE LEGISLATION WOULD BE VITAL IN THE PROMOTION AND REGULATION OF THIS IMPORTANT AREA OF SKILLED MANPOWER TRAINING AND ENSURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE IN DESIGNATED TRADES RECEIVED PROPER PRACTICAL TRAINING AND THE NECESSARY RELATED INSTRUCTION IN A TECHNICAL INSTITUTION.

THE ESSENCE OF THE ORDINANCE IS THAT AN EMPLOYER CAN ONLY ENGAGE A YOUNG PERSON IN A DESIGNATED TRADE IF HE HAS ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT OF APPRENTICESHIP OR IF THE EMPLOYEE HAS ALREADY COMPLETED AN APPRENTICESHIP IN THAT TRADE AND HOLDS A CERTIFICATE. THE ORDINANCE INITIALLY APPLIES TO PEOPLE BETWEEN THE AGES OF 14 AND 18. THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR HAS POWER TO GRANT EXEMPTION IN CERTAIN CASES.

THE REGULATIONS PROVIDE FOR DETAILED TERMS AND CONDITIONS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE CONTRACT.

MR. HENDERSON SAID THE FIRST BATCH OF DESIGNATED TRADES WERE RECOMMENDED BY THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL IN CONSULTATION WITH THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR.

+THEY WERE SELECTED ON THE BASIS OF THE DEGREE OF SKILLS INVOLVED, THEIR NUMBERS AND IMPORTANCE TO INDUSTRY AND WITH REGARD TO THE AVAILABILITY OF RELATED TECHNICAL EDUCATION FACILITIES,+ HE ADDED.

MR. HENDERSON SAID THE DESIGNATED TRADES WOULD BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SEPTEMBER 20. IN THE MEANTIME THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WOULD BE CONTACTING EMPLOYERS IN DESIGNATED TRADES SEEKING INFORMATION ON YOUNG PEOPLE WORKING FOR THEM.

/+THE INTERIM