XN000022-1980-06-29 — Page 2

SUNDAY, JUNE 29, 1980

LABOUR DEPARTMENT FINDS JOBS FOR THE DISABLED

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THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT IS TO ASSUME ANOTHER RESPONSIBILITY HELPING TO FIND EMPLOYMENT FOR THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED, INCLUDING THE BLIND, DEAF AND PHYSICALLY DISABLED.

DISCLOSING THIS TODAY, A SPOKESMAN FOR THE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT THE NEW UNDERTAKING, TO BE THE TASK OF THE DEPARTMENT'S NEW SELECTIVE PLACEMENT SERVICE (SPS), WAS BEING TAKEN OVER FROM THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT.

HOWEVER, THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF HELPING THE EX-MENTALLY ILL, THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, AND THE MULTIPLE-HANDICAPPED WOULD CONTINUE TO BE UNDERTAKEN BY THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT'S JOB PLACEMENT UNIT AND VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION AS AT PRESENT, HE SAID.

THE NEW SERVICE WOULD OPERATE FROM NEW RODNEY BLOCK, 99 QUEENSWAY, WHERE SOME SPECIAL FACILITIES HAVE BEEN FITTED TO MAKE IT MORE ACCESSIBLE TO PHYSICALLY DISABLED VISITORS.

TO MARK THE START OF THE SERVICE, AN OPENING CEREMONY WILL BE HELD AT NEW RODNEY BLOCK AT 11 AM ON JULY 7 WITH AN UNOFFICIAL MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL, DR HO KAM-FAL, OFFICIATING,

THE SPOKESMAN ADDED THAT ALL CASES OF PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS REGISTERED WITH THE JOB PLACEMENT UNIT OF THE SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT, INCLUDING THOSE NOT YET PLACED IN EMPLOYMENT, WOULD BE TRANSFERRED TO THE SPS AT THE BEGINNING OF JULY.

PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED PEOPLE REQUIRING EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE SHOULD CONTACT THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT SERVICE AFTER JULY 7. TO FACILITATE SMOOTH OPERATION AND TO AVOID INCONVENIENCE, THEY WERE ADVISED TO MAKE PRIOR APPOINTMENTS ON TELEPHONE 5-280049 OR 5-282523 EXT, 50 BEFORE CALLING AT THE SERVICE.

EMPLOYERS WHO WISH TO TAKE ON THE PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED OR HAVE ANY ENQUIRIES ARE WELCOME TO CONTACT THE SPS ON THE SAME TELEPHONE, THE SPOKESMAN ADDED,

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE OPENING OF THE SPS FOLLOWED CONSIDERABLE PREPARATION EFFORTS, WHICH INCLUDED SENDING OFFICERS OVERSEAS TO RECEIVE RELEVANT TRAINING. IN ADDITION, OFFICERS OF THE SPS HAD ALSO RECEIVED IN-SERVICE TRAINING LOCALLY TO UNDERSTAND THE HONG KONG SITUATION.

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