XN000022-1978-09-15 — Page 8

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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 1978

70 YOUNG MEN GRADUATE FROM GOVERNMENT APPRENTICE TRAINING SCHEME

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TWO YOUNG MEN TODAY WERE AWARDED TROPHIES FOR THE IR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN THE GOVERNMENT APPRENTICE TRAINING SCHEME.

THEY ARE CHENG KIN-MING, 18, WHO WAS AWARDED THE 'LA ISHLEY CUP' FOR THE BEST CRAFT APPRENTICE AND TSANG HING-LOK, 23, WHO WAS AWARDED THE BROWN CUP FOR THE BEST TECHNICAL APPRENTICE.

MR. CHENG, WHO STUDIED AT THE HEBRON ENGLISH MIDDLE SCHOOL, KOWLOON, BEFORE JOINING THE APPRENTICESHIP SCHEME, COMES FROM A TAILORING FAMILY. HE HAS FOUR BROTHERS AND A SISTER. HE WILL BE WORKING IN THE WATER SUPPLIES DEPARTMENT.

MR. TSANG, WHO STUDIED AT THE TANG KING PO TECHNICAL SCHOOL, KOWLOON HAS TWO BROTHERS AND A SISTER. HE ALSO COMES FROM A TAILORING BACKGROUND. HE WILL BE JOINING THE CHINA LIGHT AND POWER COMPANY AND AT THE SAME TIME PURSUE HIS STUDIES AT THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.

THE PRESENTATIONS WERE MADE AT THE GOVERNMENT APPRENTICE GRADUATION CEREMONY AT THE MORRISON HILL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE.

A TOTAL OF 70 APPRENTICES GRADUATED. OF THESE 53 WERE CRAFT APPRENTICES AND 17 WERE TECHNICAL APPRENTICES.

THEY WERE PRESENTED WITH GRADUATION CERTIFICATES BY UNOFFICIAL LEGISLATIVE COUNCILLOR, MR. ALEX WU.

SPEAKING AT THE GRADUATION CEREMONY MR. WU COMMENDED THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT FOR ITS EFFORTS IN PROVIDING YOUNG MEN WITH CRAFT AND TECHNICAL SKILL OF A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGH STANDARD AND IN SETTING A LEAD FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO FOLLOW.

+THE OBJECT OF SO DOING IS NOT ONLY TO PROVIDE TRAINED CRAFTSMEN AND TECHNICIANS FOR THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE BUT ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO HONG KONG'S POOL OF TECHNICAL AND SKILLED MANPOWER+ HE SAID.

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+ IN ORDER FOR HONG KONG TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE IN THE WORLD MARKET AND TO SURVIVE, IT IS NECESSARY THAT WE CONTINUE TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR PRODUCTS, INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY AND GENERALLY RAISE OUR SERVICE AND STANDARDS WHILST KEEPING OUR MANUFACTURING COSTS DOWN.

+THIS IMPLIES THAT WE MUST IMPROVE EXISTING MANUFACTURING AND QUALITY CONTROL TECHNIQUES, LEARN NEW ONES IN ORDER TO PRODUCE PRODUCTS OF MORE SOPHISTICATED DESIGN AND TECHNICAL CONTENT.

/+THIS IN.....