XN000022-1978-07-25 — Page 4

TUESDAY, JULY 25, 1978

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NEW BRANCH OFFICE FOR LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE OPENS

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THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TODAY (TUESDAY) OPENED THE 12TH ERANCH OFFICE OF ITS LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE AND INTRODUCED A FACSIMILE SYSTEM WHICH ENABLES ALL 12 OFFICES TO EXCHANGE UP-TO-THE-MINUTE INFORMATION ON JOBS AVAILABLE.

THE NEW OFFICE IN YUE WAN ESTATE, CHAI WAN, WAS OFFICIALLY OPENED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. NEIL HENDERSON, AND FOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY LEADERS - MR. SO CHING, CHAIRMAN OF THE CHAI WAN KAIFONG ASSOCIATION MR. SHING TING-PONG, CHAIRMAN OF THE CHAI WAN RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION- MR. CHOW PUI-CHUN, CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG CHIU CHOW OVERSEAS PUBLIC WELFARE ADVANCEMENT ASSOCIATION AND MR. C.B. THIRLWELL, PRESIDENT OF THE CHAI WAN FISHERMEN'S RECREATION CLUB.

AFTER THE OPENING, MR. HENDERSON SET THE FACSIMILE SYSTEM IN OPERATION WITH THE TOUCH OF A BUTTON, TO ENABLE MESSAGES ON JOB OPPORTUNITIES TO FLOW BETWEEN THE 12 LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE'S OFFICES.

THE QUICK EXCHANGE OF INFORMATION NOT ONLY STREAMLINES THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S OPERATIONS BUT ALSO GIVES JOB-HUNTERS A BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING THE RIGHT JOB IN THE RIGHT PLACE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

MR. HENDERSON SAID THE INAUGURATION OF THE SYSTEM MARKED THE THIRD STAGE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE.

THE SERVICE HAD BEGUN IN 1964 AFTER A SURVEY HAD REVEALED SOME 20,000 JOB VACANCIES AND INDUSTRIALISTS REQUESTED THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT TO ASSIST IN FILLING THEM.

IT MOVED INTO ITS SECOND STAGE IN 1967 WHEN IT BECAME A FREE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICE UNDER ITS PRESENT NAME. AT THE END OF 1973 THE LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE SET UP ITS SPECIAL REGISTER TO PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE FOR LOCAL AND OVERSEAS GRADUATES AND STUDENTS OF POST SECONDARY COLLEGES.

MR. HENDERSON SAID: +WITH THE INSTALLATION OF THE FACSIMILE SYSTEM, ALL THE LOCAL EMPLOYMENT SERVICE'S OFFICES WILL HAVE AN EFFICIENT COMMUNICATIONS LINK AND THE PERFORMANCE OF THE SERVICE WILL BE FURTHER IMPROVED.

+HOWEVER, HE ADDED, I WOULD EMPHASISE THAT AN EMPLOYMENT SERVICE BY ITSELF CANNOT AND DOES NOT CREATE JOBS ANY MORE THAN IT CAN CREATE PEOPLE IN TIMES OF LABOUR SHORTAGE.

+THE SUCCESS OF THE SERVICE DEPENDS ON THE AVAILABILITY OF VACANCIES NOTIFIED BY EMPLOYERS AND THE TYPES OF JOB SEEKERS REGISTERED WITH THE SERVICE, HE SAID.

MR. HENDERSON POINTED OUT THAT DURING THE SECOND QUARTER OF THIS YEAR MORE THAN 4,740 JOB SEEKERS, INCLUDING 24 GRADUATES, WERE SUCCESSFULLY PLACED IN EMPLOYMENT. HE CALLED ON EMPLOYERS AND JOB SEEKERS TO MAKE FULL USE OF THE SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE CHAI WAN AND OTHER OFFICES.

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