XN000022-1981-08-26 — Page 5

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1981

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SPECIAL TRAINING COURSE FOR YOUNG MARINE ENGINEERS

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THE HAKING WONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE IS TO OFFER A SYSTEMATIC TRAINING PROGRAMME THIS OCTOBER FOR YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WANT TO BECOME QUALIFIED MARINE ENGINEERS.

THE PREPARATORY COURSES, WHICH WILL BE RUN ON A SHORT FULL-TIME BASIS, ARE INTENDED FOR THOSE WHO POSSESS SOME MARINE ENGINEERING KNOWLEDGE TO SIT FOR THE EXAMINATIONS FOR CLASSES THREE AND FOUR CERTIFICATES OF COMPETENCY, WHICH ARE CONDUCTED BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT HONG KONG ON BEHALF OF THE UNITED KINGDOM' S DEPARTMENT OF TRADE.

THE ACTING PRINCIPAL OF THE HAKING WONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, MR KO CHEUK-LUEN, SAID THE INSTITUTE, WHICH IS ONE OF THE FIVE TECHNICAL INSTITUTES OF THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT, IS THE FIRST INSTITUTION IN HONG KONG TO RUN SUCH A SYSTEMATIC TRAINING COURSE FOR MARINE ENGINEERS CLASSES THREE AND FOUR.

+AT PRESENT, PEOPLE HAVE TO RELY ON SELF-STUDY IN ORDER TO SIT FOR THE EXAMINATIONS, THUS LACKING A METHODICAL PREPARATORY PROGRAMME AND FORMAL TRAINING, MR KO SAID.

MR KO SAID HE HOPED THAT THE TEACHING PROGRAMME WOULD PROVIDE THE MARITIME BUSINESS WITH MORE QUALIFIED MARINE ENGINEERS.

APPLICANTS FOR BOTH COURSES SHOULD HAVE SOME FORM OF RECOGNISED INITIAL TRAINING AND SEA SERVICE AS A JUNIOR MARINE ENGINEER ON BOARD OCEAN-GOING VESSELS.

THE PERIOD OF SEA SERVICE, WHICH WILL ALSO BE ASSESSED BY THE MARINE DEPARTMENT, IS NOT LESS THAN SIX MONTHS FOR CLASS FOUR AND NOT LESS THAN 21 MONTHS FOR CLASS THREE.

ON PASSING THE EXAMINATIONS OF COMPETENCY, THEY WILL BECOME CERTIFICATED MARINE ENGINEERS CLASSES THREE AND FOUR.

MR KO POINTED OUT THAT DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF VESSEL, THE MONTHLY SALARY FOR A CLASS FOUR MARINE ENGINEER MIGHT REACH$5 000 WHILE A CLASS THREE ENGINEER COULD EARN $7 000 A MONTH.

AND THEY MAY ALSO PURSUE HIGHER CLASS CERTIFICATES IN THE HONG KONG POLYTECHNIC.

IN ADDITION TO FULLY QUALIFIED INSTRUCTORS, THE HAKING WONG TECHNICAL INSTITUTE HAS A MARINE FITTING WORKSHOP EQUIPPED WITH THE NECESSARY TEACHING FACILITIES, INCLUDING A STEAM BOILER, A STEAM TURBINE, A DIESEL ENGINE TEST-BED AND MARINE PUMPS, WHICH HAD BEEN REMOVED FROM THE ENGINE ROOM OF A VESSEL.

THE COURSES, WHICH START IN OCTOBER, WILL RUN FROM 9 AM TO 4.10 PM EACH DAY, FIVE DAYS A WEEK. THE DURATION FOR CLASS FOUR COURSE IS THREE WEEKS WHILE THAT FOR CLASS THREE IS 12 WEEKS.