XN000022-1980-11-11 — Page 6

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1980

5

IN HIS ADDRESS TO THE OPENING SESSION OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL LAST MONTH, THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THAT THE GOVERNOR IN COUNCIL HAD ACCEPTED BOTH RECOMMENDATIONS AND THAT THE SCHEMES SHOULD BE FUNDED FROM GENERAL REVENUE.

+WHAT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN WILL BE THAT THE NEW STATUTORY BODY WILL NOT ONLY UNDERTAKE THE PRESENT FUNCTIONS OF THE TRAINING COUNCIL BUT ALSO THE MANAGING OF TRAINING SCHEMES.

+ IN OTHER WORDS, THE NEW BODY, WITH ITS OWN COMPLEX OF BOARDS AND COMMITTEES, WILL NOT ONLY PERFORM INVESTIGATORY FUNCTIONS LEADING TO THE MAKING OF RECOMMENDATIONS BUT ALSO IMPLEMENT THOSE RECOMMENDATIONS, SAID MR KNIGHT.

EARLIER, MR KNIGHT TRACED THE DEVELOPMENT OF ORGANISED MANPOWER TRAINING IN HONG KONG IN THE LAST 10 YEARS OR SO AND HIGHLIGHTED SOME OF THE IMPROVEMENTS WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE.

A VERY GREAT DEAL HAD BEEN ACHIEVED IN THE LAST 10 YEARS UNDER THE GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON MANPOWER TRAINING, HE STRESSED.

AMONG THE ACHIEVEMENTS LISTED BY MR KNIGHT WERE

* THE GOVERNMENT BUILT FOUR TECHNICAL INSTITUTES

IN ADDITION TO MORRISON HILL BETWEEN 1973 AND 1978. A SIXTH, SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN 1984, WILL BE BUILT IN TUEN MUN TO SERVE THAT PART OF THE NEW TERRITORIES.

* THE POLYTECHNIC HAS UNDERGONE AN EXPANSION

IN THE LAST FEW YEARS UNPARALLELED IN SIMILAR INSTITUTIONS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

* THE GOVERNMENT GRANTED LAND AT NIL PREMIUM FOR, AND LOANS FROM THE DEVELOPMENT LOAN FUND TO COVER THE INITIAL COST OF, BUILDING TRAINING CENTRES TO THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY AND CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY TRAINING AUTHORITY.

* THE GOVERNMENT ENACTED IN 1976, ON THE ADVICE

OF THE TRAINING COUNCIL, THE APPRENTICESHIP ORDINANCE, WHICH HAS BEEN THE CORNERSTONE FOR ORGANISED APPRENTICE TRAINING IN HONG KONG.

MR KNIGHT POINTED OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S ULTIMATE OBJECTIVE WAS TO BRING ABOUT A MANPOWER PLANNING AND TRAINING MACHINERY WHICH WOULD BE IN THE POSITION TO ASSIST IN TWO WAYS ENSURING THAT HONG KONG WOULD HAVE THE TRAINED MANPOWER IT NEEDED TO RETAIN ITS COMPETITIVE EDGE IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET, AND ENSURING THAT ITS INDUSTRIES WOULD REMAIN COMPETITIVE AND PROFITABLE AS THEY VENTURED INEVITABLY EVER DEEPER INTO THE REALM OF SOPHISTICATED PRODUCTS.

/6