XN000022-1982-11-20 — Page 4

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 1982

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HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY MANPOWER SURVEY PUBLISHED

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WITH MORE NEW HOTELS COMING INTO OPERATION IN THE NEXT FEW YEARS, THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY MUST EMBARK ON A MANPOWER TRAINING PROGRAMME OR THE SHORTAGE OF TRAINED OPERATIVE STAFF MIGHT BECOME MORE ACUTE.

THIS WAS POINTED OUT IN A REPORT ON THE MANPOWER SURVEY HELD IN 1981 BY THE HOTEL, CATERING AND TOURISM TRAINING BOARD OF THE FORMER HONG KONG TRAINING COUNCIL.

TO COPE WITH MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS, THE REPORT RECOMMENDED TWO REMEDIAL MEASURES: TO STANDARDISE AND UNIFY THE PRESENT HOSPITALITY COURSES IN THE EXISTING INSTITUTIONS AND TO SET UP A HOTEL TRAINING CENTRE MAINLY FOR OPERATIVES.

COMMENTING ON THE FINDINGS, MR LARRY TCHOU, CHAIRMAN OF THE TRAINING BOARD NOW UNDER THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL, SAID, +WELL-TRAINED AND EDUCATED EMPLOYEES ARE IN GREAT DEMAND BY THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY, ESPECIALLY WITH TOURISM BEING ONE OF THE LEADING REVENUE GENERATORS OF HONG KONG,+

THE TRAINING BOARD ALSO RECOMMENDED SPECIFIC TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR MANAGERIAL AND SUPERVISORY STAFF FOR THE INDUSTRY.

DURING THE SURVEY PERIOD, THERE WERE 784 VACANCIES IN THE 6 827 ESTABLISHMENTS SURVEYED, REPRESENTING 2.15 PER CENT OF THEIR TOTAL WORK FORCE.

THE ESTABLISHMENTS COMPRISED HOTELS, BOARDING HOUSES, AIR TRANSPORT CARRIERS, TRAVEL AGENCIES AND WESTERN-STYLE CATERING INSTITUTIONS WHICH INCLUDE RESTAURANTS, FAST FOOD SHOPS AND BARS. THE REPORT, IN ENGLISH AND CHINESE, IS ON SALE AT $43 A COPY AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE.

KWUN TONG FESTIVAL OPENS

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A TWO-WEEK LONG KWUN TONG ARTS FESTIVAL STARTED TODAY (SATURDAY) WITH AN EYE-DOTTING CEREMONY BY THE SECRETARY FOR DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION, MR DAVID AKERS-JONES, AT THE KWUN TONG RECREATION GROUND IN TSUI PING ROAD.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE URBAN COUNCIL, MR HILTON CHEONG- LEEN ALSO OFFICIATED AT THE CEREMONY BY ADDRESSING THE CATHERING.

THE CEREMONY WAS FOLLOWED BY DRAGON AND LION DANCES, FOLK DANCE, PIPERS BAND AND CHINESE ORCHESTRAL MUSIC PERFORMANCES, CHILDREN'S CHOIR SINGING AND VARIOUS EXHIBITIONS.

THE FESTIVAL