XN000022-1978-08-04 — Page 4

FRIDAY, AUGUST 4, 1978

EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED PERSONS IN GOVERNMENT ENCOURAGED ******

THE SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, MR. MARTIN ROWLANDS, HAS ASKED HEADS OF GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS TO GIVE DISABLED PERSONS APPLYING FOR GOVERNMENT JOBS +AN APPROPRIATE DEGREE OF PREFERENCE OVER OTHER APPLICANTS.+

IN A CIRCULAR RECENTLY, MR. ROWLANDS SAID: +WHEN ALL OTHER FACTORS ARE EQUAL, DISABLED PERSONS APPLYING FOR GOVERNMENT POSTS AND FOUND SUITABLE FOR EMPLOYMENT SHOULD BE GIVEN AN APPROPRIATE DEGREE OF PREFERENCE OVER OTHER APPLICANTS.+

THE CIRCULAR ALSO SAYS THAT DEPARTMENTS EMPLOYING DISABLED PERSONS SHOULD ARRANGE WITH THE MAINTENANCE BRANCH OF THE ARCHITECTURAL OFFICE, PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT, FOR ANY NECESSARY ALTERATIONS TO OFFICE PREMISES AND FITTINGS, SUCH AS TOILET FACILITIES, TO BE CARRIED OUT FOR THE CONVENIENCE OF DISABLED OFFICERS.

MR. ROWLANDS SAID HE BELIEVED THE CIVIL SERVICE SHOULD SET A GOOD EXAMPLE BY PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT FOR AS MANY DISABLED PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. WE ALREADY EMPLOY ABOUT 450 DISABLED PEOPLE, BUT I SHALL BE ASKING ALL HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS TO EXAMINE WAYS OF INCREASING THIS NUMBER, HE SAID.

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