XN000022-1979-03-11 — Page 4

SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 1979

EMPLOYMENT SURVEY OF BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION SITES

IN PRIVATE SECTOR

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THE CENSUS AND STATISTICS DEPARTMENT TODAY (SUNDAY) APPEALED TO BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTORS IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO CO-OPERATE IN AN EMPLOYMENT SURVEY NEXT WEEK.

THE SURVEY, CONDUCTED BY THE DEPARTMENT'S OFFICERS AT QUARTERLY INTERVALS, IS TO HELP COMPILE STATISTICAL TABLES.

A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT EMPHASISED THAT INFORMATION RELATING TO INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTORS OR SITES WILL BE TREATED IN STRICT CONFIDENCE.

HE SAID LETTERS AND SURVEY FORMS FOR THE MARCH 1979 SURVEY HAD BEEN SENT TO CONTRACTORS SEEKING INFORMATION ON THE NUMBER OF MANUAL WORKERS AT EACH SITE UNDER THEIR CHARGE AS AT MARCH 15.

SURVEY OFFICERS, EACH BEARING A GOVERNMENT IDENTITY CARD, WILL VISIT WORK SITES FROM MARCH 15 TO 17 TO COLLECT THE COMPLETED FORMS, HE ADDED.

DEPARTMENT RECORDS SHOWED THAT THERE WERE 73,716 MANUAL WORKERS ENGAGED AT VARIOUS WORK SITES IN MID-DECEMBER LAST YEAR, OF WHICH 35,512 WERE INVOLVED IN BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS OF THE PRIVATE SECTOR.

ALL ENQUIRIES CONCERNING THIS SURVEY MAY BE DIRECTED TO MR. CHIU FOOK-CHING, STATISTICIAN (EMPLOYMENT AND EARNINGS) AT 5-444938, THE SPOKESMAN SAID.

AFTER-CARE SERVICE ACHIEVES REMARKABLE RESULTS

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AFTER-CARE HAS BECOME AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE PRISONS DEPARTMENT'S REHABILITATION PROGRAMME FOR DRUG ADDICTS AND HAS ACHIEVED REMARKABLE RESULTS IN PREVENTING RELAPSES.

STATISTICS SHOW THAT BETWEEN THE START OF THE PROGRAMME

IN 1969 AND THE END OF 1978, 12,319 MEN AND WOMEN AFTER DISCHARGE HAVE GONE THROUGH THE STATUTORY ONE-YEAR PERIOD OF AFTER-CARE.

DURING THIS PERIOD, 7,536 MEN OR 63.53 PER CENT AND 343 WOMEN OR 75.22 PER CENT WERE CERTIFIED TO HAVE REMAINED DRUG-FREE AND, AT THE SAME TIME, WERE NOT RE-CONVICTED OF ANY CRIMINAL OFFENCES.