XN000022-1976-11-19 — Page 2

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1976

SIR DENYS OPENS ANNUAL CAREERS EXHIBITION

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THE ACTING GOVERNOR, SIR DENYS ROBERTS, TODAY (FRIDAY) CALLED ON THE COMMUNITY TO MAKE THE BEST USE OF ITS MANPOWER RESOURCES BY HELPING YOUNGSTERS TO FIND WORK IN WHICH THEY WOULD BE PRODUCTIVE AND CONTENTED.

+ IF HONG KONG IS TO PROSPER IN THE FUTURE, WE MUST MAKE THE BEST POSSIBLE USE OF THE TALENTS OF OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, HE SAID.

SIR DENYS WAS SPEAKING AT THE OPENING OF THE FIFTH ANNUAL CAREERS EXHIBITION ORGANISED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AT THE KOWLOON-CANTON RAILWAY STATION IN HUNG HOM.

HE SAID: A HIGH PROPORTION OF YOUNGSTERS, WHEN ABOUT TO LEAVE SCHOOL, HAVE LITTLE IDEA OF WHAT THEY WANT TO DO AND EVEN LESS KNOWLEDGE OF WHAT IS AVAILABLE FOR THEM.

+ IT IS ONE OF THE SADDER ASPECTS OF MODERN LIFE THAT SO MANY YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN DRIFT INTO WORK IN WHICH THEY HAVE LITTLE INTEREST AND FOR WHICH THEY HAVE NO TALENT - SIMPLY BECAUSE THEY MUST EARN A LIVING AND CANNOT THINK OF WHAT TO DO.

+ THE MORE INFORMATION WHICH WE CAN GIVE THEM ABOUT CAREERS WHICH ARE AVAILABLE, THE BETTER FOR THEM AND FOR THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, HE ADDED.

SIR DENYS SAID THE EXHIBITION WAS OF GREAT VALUE IN PROVIDING VITAL INFORMATION FOR YOUNG PEOPLE, AND THEIR TEACHERS AND PARENTS AS WELL, ON CAREERS.

SIR DENYS ALSO PRAISED THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S YOUTH EMPLOYMENT ADVISORY SERVICE FOR DEVOTING SUBSTANTIAL TIME AND RESOURCES TO THE TASK OF GIVING CAREERS GUIDANCE.

THE CAREERS EXHIBITION WAS FIRST HELD IN 1972 ON A MODEST SCALE IN THE CITY HALL, ATTRACTING ABOUT 30,000 VISITORS.

IN THE FOLLOWING THREE YEARS, THE ANNUAL EXHIBITION DEVELOPED AS FAR AS WAS POSSIBLE WITHIN THE PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS IMPOSED BY THE CITY HALL, AND IN 1975 IT WAS ATTENDED BY OVER 100,000 VISITORS.

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