XN000022-1981-06-16 — Page 8

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 1981

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NEW POST OFFICE FOR POK FU LAM

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A NEW POST OFFICE, LOCATED AT SHOP NO. 502, CHI FU COMMERCIAL CENTRE, CHI FU FA YUEN POK FU LAM, WILL BE OPENED AT 10 AM ON FRIDAY, JUNE 19.

IT WILL PROVIDE THE FULL RANGE OF POSTAL BUSINESS, EXCEPT FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF INSURED LETTERS,

THE HOURS OF BUSINESS WILL BE AS FOLLOWS:

MONDAYS TO FRIDAYS:

SATURDAYS

9.00 AM TO 1.00 PM

2.15 PM TO 5.00 PM

9.00 AM TO 1.00 PM

THE NEW POK FU LAM POST OFFICE WILL BRING THE TOTAL NUMBER OF POST OFFICES IN HONG KONG TO 80, INCLUDING TWO MOBILE POST OFFICES OPERATING IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.

TRAINING PLAN FOR JEWELLERY INDUSTRY

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A RECOMMENDATION MADE BY THE HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A TRAINING BOARD TO CATER FOR THE TRAINING NEEDS OF THE LOCAL JEWELLERY INDUSTRY, HAS BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT.

THIS WAS DISCLOSED TODAY (TUESDAY) BY THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR J.N. HENDERSON, DURING A VISIT TO THE TSE SUI LUEN JEWELLERY COMPANY IN HUNG HOM.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE COUNCIL FELT THAT THE INDUSTRY NEEDS NOT ONLY MORE, BUT ALSO BETTER-TRAINED SKILLED WORKERS TO COPE WITH ITS LARGE GROWTH POTENTIAL.

MR HENDERSON SAID THAT THE INDUSTRY HAD UNDERGONE RAPID EXPANSION IN RECENT YEARS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE VALUE OF EXPORTS INCREASED FROM $586 MILLION IN 1974 TO $1 175 MILLION IN 1979, EMPLOYMENT FROM 5 390 TO 10 789 AND JEWELLERY ESTABLISHMENTS FROM 471 TO 873.

HOWEVER, THE COUNCIL WAS OF THE OPINION THAT THE INDUSTRY, WHICH EMPLOYS MOSTLY SKILLED CRAFTSMEN, HAS A SEVERE SHORTAGE OF SKILLED MANPOWER BUT THERE IS NO ORGANISED TRAINING FOR CRAFTSMEN.

THE COUNCIL ALSO FELT THAT FORMALISED TRAINING WOULD SHORTEN THE TRAINING PERIOD FOR NOVICES IN THE INDUSTRY, HE ADDED.

MR HENDERSON, ACCOMPANIED BY ASSISTANT COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR H.R. KNIGHT, TOURED THE COMPANY'S PRODUCTION UNIT, EXPORT DEPARTMENT AND THE SHOW ROOM.

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