XN000022-1981-04-03 — Page 9

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CRAFTSMEN TO SHOW SKILLS

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CRAFTSMEN IN HONG KONG ARE HIGHLY SKILLED AND IT IS HOPED THAT IN FUTURE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL COMPETITIONS, MR JEFFREY DEVEREUX, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION (TECHNICAL) SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

HE WAS SPEAKING AT THE PRIZE-GIVING CEREMONY FOR WINNERS OF THE ANNUAL ENGINEERING CRAFT COMPETITION HELD AT KWUN TONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE.

+I BELIEVE THAT WITH THE INNATE SKILL OF OUR CRAFTSMEN AND THE RIGHT SORT OF TRAINING WE CAN MATCH THE HIGHEST STANDARDS IN THE WORLD.

+ IT IS THEREFORE THE HOPE OF THE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES AND THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT, WHO HAVE JOINTLY ADMINISTERED THE COMPETITION, THAT HONG KONG WILL AT SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE BE ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN INTERNATIONAL CRAFT SKILL COMPETITIONS, MR DEVEREUX SAID.

THIS WAS THE SECOND CRAFT SKILL COMPETITION HELD. THE FIRST WAS HELD LAST YEAR.

ITS AIM IS TO RAISE THE STANDARD OF TRAINING AT CRAFT LEVEL, AND TO PROMOTE PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING, ESPECIALLY AMONG STUDENTS AND LOCAL INDUSTRIES, OF TECHNICAL EDUCATION.

THE WINNERS OF THE CRAFT COMPETITION RECEIVED CASH PRIZES TROPHIES AND AWARDS, AND ALL THE FINALISTS RECEIVED CERTIFICATES OF MERIT.

THE CASH PRIZES WERE DONATED BY CHEN HSONG MACHINERY CO. LTD.,

AND THE COMPANY'S MANAGING DIRECTOR, MR CHIANG CHEN OFFICIATED AT TODAY'S PRESENTATION CEREMONY.

HOLIDAY REMINDER

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A LABOUR DEPARTMENT SPOKESMAN TODAY (FRIDAY) REMINDED EMPLOYERS THAT THE CHING MING FESTIVAL WHICH FALLS ON SUNDAY. APRIL 5, IS ONE OF THE 10 STATUTORY HOLIDAYS UNDER THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE.

THAT SUNDAY, HE POINTED OUT, IS PROBABLY ALSO A REST DAY FOR MANY EMPLOYEES COVERED BY THE ORDINANCE, AND IF THIS IS THE CASE AN EMPLOYER MUST APPOINT AN ALTERNATIVE REST DAY BECAUSE A REST DAY CANNOT BE COUNTED AS A STATUTORY HOLIDAY.

IN THE CASE OF WOMEN AND YOUNG PERSONS EMPLOYED IN INDUSTRY, IF THE CHING MING STATUTORY HOLIDAY FALLS ON THEIR REST DAY, THE HOLIDAY SHOULD BE TAKEN ON THE DAY FOLLOWING THE REST DAY.

UNDER THE ORDINANCE ALL MANUAL EMPLOYEES, INCLUDING DOMESTIC SERVANTS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THEIR EARNINGS, AND ALL NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES EARNING NOT MORE THAN $6 000 A MONTH, ARE ENTITLED TO THE HOLIDAY.

/THEY MUST

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