XN000022-1980-07-09 — Page 29

WEDNESDAY, JULY 9, 1980

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THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE TECHNICAL EDUCATION, HE SAID, WAS THE PRIVILEGE OF A REGISTERED APPRENTICE, BUT HE ALSO HAS OBLIGATIONS TO DISCHARGE.

*THE TRAINING COUNCIL THEREFORE SUPPORTS THE SECOND PROVISION ON EDUCATION AND FEELS THAT SHOULD SUCH AN APPRENTICE MISBEHAVE OR REPUDIATE HIS CONTRACT, HE SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY SUSPENDED FROM A TECHNICAL COURSE WHETHER OR NOT HE IS IN A DESIGNATED TRADE.

THIS IS NECESSARY AND I UNDERSTAND, HAS BEEN FOUND USEFUL IN DEALING WITH DELINQUENT APPRENTICES IN DESIGNATED TRADES, HE NOTED.

MR TIEN ALSO NOTED THAT THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE HAD BEEN EFFECTIVE IN PROMOTING PROPER APPRENTICE TRAINING NOT ONLY IN DESIGNATED TRADES BUT ALSO IN OTHER TRADES.

+THE LATTER SIGNIFICANTLY POINTS TO THE FACT THAT EMPLOYERS ARE BEGINNING TO FIND THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK BROUGHT ABOUT BY THIS LEGISLATION USEFUL AND ACCEPTABLE IN THE TRAINING OF THEIR TECHNICIANS AND OTHER SKILLED WORKERS, HE ADDED.

TAXI REGISTRATION TIME EXTENDED

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THE TIME LIMIT FOR REGISTERING UP TO 10 000 URBAN TAXIS HAS BEEN EXTENDED BY 12 MONTHS TO ALLOW FOR FURTHER TENDERING EXERCISES TO BE CONDUCTED IN SEPTEMBER AND DECEMBER THIS YEAR.

IN MOVING THE MOTION TO EXTEND THE LIMIT FROM JANUARY 18, 1980 TO JANUARY 31, 1981, THE SECRETARY FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, THỆ HÔN DEREK JONES, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL UNDER THE ROAD TRAFFIC ORDINANCE IN JANUARY THIS YEAR, ORDERED THAT THIS MAXIMUM NUMBER OF URBAN TAXIS TO BE REACHED BY ISSUING 300 TAXI LICENCES EVERY THREE MONTHS.

AT PRESENT THE NUMBER OF URBAN TAXIS, INCLUDING 300 IN A CURRENT TENDERING EXERCISE WAS 9 069.

MR JONES SAID A FULL REVIEW OF TAXI OPERATIONS WAS BEING CONDUCTED, AND EXPECTED THAT THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL WOULD BE CONSULTED BEFORE THE END OF THIS YEAR ON THE LIMIT ON THE NUMBER OF LICENCES TO BE SET SUBSEQUENTLY, AS WELL AS ON OTHER MATTERS AFFECTING THE TAXI TRADE.

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