XN000022-1977-08-03 — Page 6

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3, 1977

7 PER CENT INCREASE IN EMPLOYMENT AT BUILDING

AND CONSTRUCTION SITES IN JUNE

*****

THE NUMBER OF MANUAL WORKERS ENGAGED AT BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SITES HAS RISEN TO 58,390 IN JUNE, ACCORDING TO A RECENT EMPLOYMENT SURVEY CONDUCTED BY THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT.

THIS REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 3,860 WORKERS OR 7 PER CENT OVER MARCH. COMPARED WITH JUNE LAST YEAR, EMPLOYMENT IN THE BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION TRADE ROSE BY 15,630 WORKERS OR 37 PER CENT.

THERE WERE 1,120 BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SITES IN OPERATION IN JUNE 1977 AND 800 SITES OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR ALONE ACCOUNTED FOR 33,510 WORKERS, AN INCREASE OF 740 WORKERS OR 2 PER CENT OVER MARCH 1977.

DURING THE PERIOD FROM MARCH TO JUNE, THE NUMBER OF WORKERS ENGAGED AT CONSTRUCTION SITES TENDERED BY THE PUBLIC WORKS AND HOUSING DEPARTMENTS WAS 18,380, AN INCREASE OF 13 PER CENT. EMPLOYMENT AT THE MASS TRANSIT RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION SITES ALSO RECORDED AN INCREASE OF 17 PER CENT, BRINGING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF WORKERS EMPLOYED AT MTR SITES TO 6,510.

GRANTS APPROVED FROM THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND FOR RECREATION *******

A TOTAL OF 140 APPLICATIONS FOR FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FROM THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND FOR RECREATION THIS YEAR HAVE BEEN APPROVED.

THE GRANTS, TOTALLING $429,000, WILL ENABLE THE ORGANISATIONS CONCERNED TO PROVIDE VARIOUS RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR BOTH YOUNG AND OLD PEOPLE.

THE SIR DAVID TRENCH FUND FOR RECREATION WAS SET UP IN 1970 TO ENABLE FACILITIES TO BE PROVIDED FOR RECREATION, SPORT, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES SPECIALLY FOR YOUNG PEOPLE SO THAT THEY MAY USE THEIR LEISURE TIME IN A MEANINGFUL WAY.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE COUNCIL FOR RECREATION AND SPORT, WHICH ADMINISTERS THE FUND, SAID THAT APPLICATIONS FOR GRANTS FOR 1978/79 WOULD BE INVITED LATER THIS YEAR.

AN ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD BE MADE IN BOTH THE ENGLISH AND CHINESE NEWSPAPERS AROUND MID-DECEMBER, AND THE NECESSARY APPLICATION FORMS WOULD THEN BE AVAILABLE FROM ALL CITY DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE URBAN AREAS, AND FROM THE DISTRICT OFFICES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

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