XN000022-1979-01-16 — Page 4

TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1979

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MR. HO ALSO MENTIONED THE LEE WAJ LEE TECHNICAL INSTITUTE AT KOWLOON TONG WHICH, APART FROM THE FACILITIES FOR TECHNICAL EDUCATION, WOULD HAVE ACCESS FACILITIES FOR THE DISABLED. THERE WOULD BE RAPID IMPROVEMENTS IN OTHER SERVICES FOR OUR DISABLED CHILDREN AS WELL.

DURING 1979 THE NUMBER OF SPECIAL SCHOOL PLACES WOULD INCREASE BY 3,700 TO A TOTAL OF 23,500- THE NUMBER OF PLACES IN ORDINARY CHILD CARE CENTRES RESERVED FOR DISABLED CHILDREN WOULD BE DOUBLED FROM 60 TO 120, WHILE PLACES IN SPECIAL CENTRES FOR THOSE WHO COULD NOT BE INTEGRATED WITH ORDINARY CHILDREN WOULD BE INCREASED BY 50 PER CENT TO 260 WITH PARTICULAR EMPHASIS ON THE MORE SEVERELY HANDICAPPED.

THERE WOULD BE AN INCREASE OF OVER 200 PLACES IN RESIDENTIAL AND DAY CARE PLACES FOR THE SEVERELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED AND IN THE NUMBER OF HOSPITAL BEDS.

SHIPPING AND CARGO-HANDLING INDUSTRY COMMENDED

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THE SHIPPING AND CARGO-HANDLING INDUSTRY WAS COMMENDED BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR. NEIL HENDERSON, TODAY (TUESDAY) FOR ITS INITIATIVE IN FORMING A CENTRAL COMMITTEE TO KEEP SAFE WORKING METHODS AND EQUIPMENT UNDER CONSTANT REVIEW.

HE POINTED OUT THAT ONE OF THE FRUITS OF THE COMMITTEE'S LABOURS WAS THE PRODUCTION OF TWO CODES OF PRACTICE WHICH DEALT WITH LIFT TRUCKS AND CONTAINER HANDLING.

HE WENT ON: +THIS SORT OF SELF-HELP BY AN INDUSTRY IS VITAL FOR THE PREVENTION OF INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS AND I WISH THE COMMITTEE EVERY SUCCESS IN THE IR FUTURE EFFORTS. IT IS CERTAINLY A WORTHWHILE EXAMPLE TO OTHER INDUSTRIES.+

MR. HENDERSON MADE THE STATEMENT DURING A ROUTINE VISIT TO HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL TERMINALS LTD. IN KWAI CHUNG TO KEEP HIMSELF UP- TO-DATE WITH DEVELOPMENTS AND TO HELP PROMOTE THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S RECENTLY LAUNCHED INDUSTRIAL SAFETY CAMPAIGN.

HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL TERMINALS LTD. HE SAID, HAD INSTALLED CARGO-HANDLING EQUIPMENT AS MODERN AS ANY TO BE FOUND ELSEWHERE IN THE WORLD.

+APART FROM THE SHEER EFFICIENCY WHICH GIVES GAINS IN SPEED OF OFFLOADING AND CARGO PROTECTION, THE USE OF CONTAINERS REDUCES MAN- HANDLING WHICH MEANS THE RISK OF ACCIDENTS IS GREATLY LESSENED,+

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