XN000022-1979-03-16 — Page 9

FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 1979

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NEW BRANCH OFFICE FOR LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S APPRENTICESHIP DIVISION *******

A NEW BRANCH OFFICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT'S APPRENTICESHIP DIVISION OPENED TODAY (FRIDAY) IN KWUN TONG.

ITS

THE NEW OFFICE SITUATED AT YEN HAU MANSION, 100 TING FU STREET, THIRD FLOOR, IS THE FIFTH OF ITS KIND OPENED BY THE DEPARTMENT. TELEPHONE NUMBERS ARE: 3-441418 AND 3-440838.

THE OTHER FOUR OFFICES ARE IN NEW RODNEY BLOCK, QUEENSWAY, HONG KONG- 7 KING FUK STREET, SAN PO KONG, KOWLOON- SALISBURY ROAD (OPPOSITE SHERATON HOTEL), TSIM SHA TSUI AND 31 SHING FONG STREET, FIFTH FLOOR, KWAI CHUNG.

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.

A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN SAID: THE AIM OF THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE IS TO ENSURE THAT PEOPLE BETWEEN OVER THE AGE OF 14 AND UNDER 19 WORKING IN THESE TRADES RECEIVE ADEQUATE TRAINING SO THAT HONG KONG WILL EVENTUALLY HAVE AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF SKILLED MANPOWER IN THESE TRADES.+

+THE APPRENTICESHIP DIVISION WOULD ALSO HELP SETTLE DISPUTES BETWEEN EMPLOYERS AND THEIR REGISTERED APPRENTICES,+ HE ADDED.

THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT THAT ALL CONTRACTS OF APPRENTICESHIP OF YOUNG PERSONS 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.