XN000022-1981-01-16 — Page 4

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FRIDAY, JANUARY 16, 1981

APART FROM GRAPHIC ILLUSTRATIONS AND PHOTOGRAPHIC DISPLAYS, THERE IS A TRYOUT SECTION IN WHICH VISITORS ARE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT ON AND USE VARIOUS AIDS AND EQUIPMENT FOR THE DISABLED AND EXPERIENCE FOR THEMSELVES THEIR PROBLEMS.

THE EXHIBITION WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DAILY FROM 10 AM TO 6 PM FOR ONE WEEK AFTER WHICH IT WILL BE STAGED IN 11 LOCAL DISTRICTS BY ROTATION UNTIL THE END OF THIS YEAR,

CALL FOR MORE JOBS FOR THE DISABLED *****

THE SUCCESS OR OTHERWISE OF THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT SERVICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT DEPENDS ON EMPLOYERS OFFERING OPEN EMPLOYMENT TO DISABLED PEOPLE, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR J.N. HENDERSON, SAID TODAY.

SPEAKING AT THE LUNCHEON MEETING OF THE ROTARY CLUB OF KOWLOON NORTH, HE SAID THE SERVICE HAD PLACED 113 DISABLED PERSONS IN OPEN EMPLOYMENT IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS AFTER IT WAS SET UP IN JULY. THEY COMPRISED 24 BLIND OR PARTIALLY SIGHTED, 13 DEAF, 74 PHYSICALLY OR MEDICALLY DISABLED AND TWO WITH MULTIPLE DISABILITY.

+THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT START BECAUSE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT IS A SLOW AND TIME-CONSUMING ACTIVITY. THE SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENT OF ALL THESE DISABLED PERSONS AND THOSE WHO COME IN THE FUTURE WILL DEPEND ON A FAR MORE ENTHUSIASTIC RESPONSE FROM EMPLOYERS THAN AT PRESENT, HE NOTED.

MR HENDERSON SAID HIS DEPARTMENT'S PLACEMENT OFFICERS WOULD CONTINUE TO CALL ON EMPLOYERS, TO SEEK MORE JOB OPENINGS FOR THE DISABLED. HOWEVER, HE URGED EMPLOYERS NOT TO WAIT FOR HIS OFFICERS TO CONTACT THEM, BUT TO CALL THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT SERVICE AS AND WHEN THEY REQUIRED STAFF.

+ANY EMPLOYER CAN SIMPLY PLACE A VACANCY ORDER WITH THE SPS BY CALLING AT THE SPS OFFICE IN NEW RODNEY BLOCK OR TELEPHONING 5-280049 OR 5-282523 EXT. 50,+ HE SAID.

DESCRIBING THE WORK OF THE SPS, MR HENDERSON SAID ITS ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO HELP A DISABLED PERSON TO RETURN TO A NORMAL WORKING LIFE IN REMUNERATIVE EMPLOYMENT COMPATIBLE WITH HIS APTITUDE, INTERESTS AND CAPACITY SO THAT HE CAN USE HIS AVAILABLE RESIDUAL SKILL TO ITS FULLEST EXTENT.+

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THE WORK OF THE SPS INVOLVES THREE DISTINCT PARTS KNOWING THE WORKER, KNOWING THE JOB AND MATCHING THE WORKER WITH THE JOB.

THE WORK OF THE PLACEMENT OFFICER DOES NOT STOP IMMEDIATELY AFTER A DISABLED PERSON IS PLACED IN EMPLOYMENT. FOR A PERIOD OF APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS AFTER THE PLACEMENT, THE OFFICER WILL FROM TIME TO TIME TELEPHONE OR VISIT THE DISABLED PERSON AND THE EMPLOYER TO SEE HOW THE FORMER IS PROGRESSING,

/+THE PURPOSE