XN000022-1978-12-17 — Page 5

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1978

APPRENTICESHIP DIVISION OPENS BRANCH OFFICE

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A NEW BRANCH OFFICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S APPRENTICESHIP DIVISION WILL BE OPENED TOMORROW (MONDAY) IN KWAI CHUNG.

THE NEW OFFICE, AT 31 SHING FONG STREET, FIFTH FLOOR, IS THE FOURTH OPENED BY THE DEPARTMENT. ITS TELEPHONE NUMBERS AREI 12-297908 AND 12-298252.

THE OTHER THREE OFFICES ARE IN NEW RODNEY BLOCK, QUEENSWAY, HONG KONG- 7 KING FUK STREET, SAN PO KONG, KOWLOON- AND SALISBURY ROAD (OPPOSITE SHERATON HOTEL), TSIM SHA TSUI.

THE MAIN FUNCTION OF THESE OFFICES IS TO ADMINISTER THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE AND TO PROMOTE APPRENTICE TRAINING IN THE 31 DESIGNATED TRADES WHICH ARE OF VITAL IMPORTANCE TO HONG KONG INDUSTRIES.

SAID A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN: +THE AIM OF THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE IS TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE BETWEEN 14 AND 18 YEARS OLD WORKING IN THESE TRADES RECEIVE ADEQUATE TRAINING SO THAT HONG KONG WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF SKILLED MANPOWER.

+THE APPRENTICESHIP DIVISION WOULD ALSO HELP SETTLE DISPUTES BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND THE IR REGISTERED APPRENTICES.+

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT ALL CONTRACTS OF APPRENTICESHIP OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN DESIGNATED TRADES SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE APPRENTICESHIP DIVISION FOR REGISTRATION WITHIN 14 DAYS AFTER EXECUTION. FAILURE TO DO SO MIGHT RENDER AN EMPLOYER LIABLE TO PROSECUTION.

HOWEVER, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR HAS THE POWER TO GRANT EXEMPTION IN CERTAIN CASES, IF, FOR EXAMPLE, HE IS SATISFIED THAT THE YOUNG PERSON HAS UNDERGONE SUFFICIENT TRAINING IN A PARTICULAR TRADE.

THE SPOKESMAN INVITED EMPLOYERS IN NON-DESIGNATED TRADES TO SEND CONTRACTS OF APPRENTICESHIP TO THE DIVISION FOR VOLUNTARY REGISTRATION.

ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE CAN BE MADE AT THE OFFICES OF THE APPRENTICESHIP DIVISION MENTIONED ABOVE.

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