XN000022-1981-06-10 — Page 2

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10, 1981

TRAINING SCHEMES FOR HIGH TECHNOLOGY PLANNED

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THREE TRAINING SCHEMES PROPOSED BY THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL WERE CONSIDERED TO BE FUNDAMENTAL TO THE SUCCESS OF ANY EFFORT AIMED AT DIVERSIFICATION TOWARDS HIGH TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR. THE HON J.N. HENDERSON, SAID AT THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHAN KAM-CHUEN.

HE SAID THAT THE SCHEMES WERE CONTAINED IN PROPOSALS MADE BY THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL TO THE GOVERNMENT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NUMBER OF INDUSTRY-WIDE SCHEMES TO BE FINANCED FROM THE GENERAL REVENUE, AND FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A STATUTORY BODY TO ADMINISTER THEM.

THE SCHEMES PARTICULARLY PERTINENT TO MR CHAN'S QUESTION,

PROPOSE

*

PROVIDING PRACTICAL TRAINING TO ENGINEERING GRADUATES,

* THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY

TRAINING CENTRE MAINLY FOR THE TRAINING OF KEY OPERATIVE MANPOWER, AND

*

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRAINING CENTRE FOR KEY ENGINEERING TRADES WHICH ARE FOUND IN ALMOST ALL INDUSTRIES.

THE FIRST SCHEME, MR HENDERSON EXPLAINED, AIMS AT BRINGING ABOUT SUFFICIENT TRAINING PLACES IN INDUSTRY NEEDED FOR PROVIDING ABOUT 550 ENGINEERING GRADUATES A YEAR WITH ORGANISED POST-GRADUATE TRAINING IN INDUSTRIAL ESTABLISHMENTS.

THE SECOND AIMS AT PROVIDING TRAINING IN THE MOST UP-TO-DATE MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES TO ABOUT 2 000 NEW OPERATIVE ANNUALLY FOR THE THREE MAJOR ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING SECTORS, NAMELY, THE SEMICONDUCTOR, THE COMPUTER/MEMORY PLANE AND THE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SECTORS.

THE LAST SCHEME SEEKS TO PROVIDE TRAINING IN SKILLS WHICH ARE BASIC TO KEY ENGINEERING TRADES SUCH AS TOOL AND DIE MAKERS, MACHINISTS AND FITTERS WHICH TOGETHER CONSTITUTE THE BASE OF ALL MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING THE ELECTRONICS INDUSTRY.

IT WAS GOVERNMENT'S INTENTION THAT THE SCHEMES AS WELL AS THE STATUTORY BODY RESPONSIBLE FOR OPERATING THEM SHOULD BE SET UP AS A MATTER OF URGENCY.

DETAILS OF THE FINANCIAL AND STAFFING IMPLICATIONS INVOLVED WERE IN AN ADVANCED STATE OF PREPARATION AND TWO SITES HAD BEEN RESERVED FOR THE SCHEMES, HE ADDED.

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