XN000022-1978-10-18 — Page 10

WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1978

REPORTS OF CLOTHING AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITIES TABLED

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THE YEAR-OLD CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING CENTRE HAS PROVIDED OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOME 3,000 OPERATIVE TRAINEES WHO, ON COMPLETION OF TRAINING, WERE ALL SUITABLY PLACED IN THE INDUSTRY.

AT THE SAME TIME, THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING CENTRE WHICH WAS OPENED IN AUGUST LAST YEAR HAS ALSO PRODUCED SOME 550 CRAFT TRAINEES, MOST OF WHOM WERE PLACED IN THE SECOND YEAR IN PROPER APPRENTICESHIP SCHEMES TO OBTAIN FURTHER ON-THE-JOB TRAINING BEFORE BECOMING FULLY-FLEDGED CRAFTSMEN.

THE 1977 ANNUAL REPORTS BY THE TRAINING AUTHORITIES FOR THE TWO INDUSTRIES WERE TABLED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON.

IN HIS STATEMENT ON THE REPORTS, CHAIRMAN OF THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL, THE HON. FRANCIS TIEN POINTED OUT THAT DESPITE INCREASING IMPORT RESTRICTIONS AND COMPETITION, THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY LAST YEAR CONTINUED TO BE THE LARGEST MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG IN TERMS OF TOTAL EXPORT VALUE AND NUMBER OF WORKERS EMPLOYED.

AT $13,908 MILLION, OR ABOUT 40 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL VALUE OF EXPORTS, THE INDUSTRY'S ACHIEVEMENT LAST YEAR HAS MADE HONG KONG THE WORLD'S PREMIER EXPORTER OF CLOTHING.

+TO MAINTAIN OUR COMPETITIVENESS, WE MUST UP-GRADE OUR PRODUCTS, IMPROVE OUR PRODUCTIVITY AND QUALITY STANDARDS. THIS IN TURN WILL DEPEND ON OUR ABILITY TO MAKE FULL USE OF MODERN PRODUCTION TECHNIQUES, AND TO ENSURE A CONTINUOUS SUPPLY OF WELL-TRAINED AND EFFICIENT WORKERS,+ HE SAID.

THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY ALSO HAD A BUSY YEAR, WITH THE VALUE OF CONSTRUCTION WORKS COMPLETED WELL EXCEEDING $5,250 MILLION, RESULTING IN A CONSIDERABLE INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR ALL LEVELS OF MANPOWER, PARTICULARLY FOR SKILLED CRAFTSMEN.

MR. TIEN WAS CONFIDENT THAT THE TWO TRAINING CENTRES WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE CONTINUING SUCCESS OF THE TWO INDUSTRIES.

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