XN000022-1984-02-10 — Page 10

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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1984

GOVERNMENT IS NOW OPERATING TWO SKILLS CENTRES FOR THE DISABLED OFFERING ABOUT 350 PLACES. MOREOVER, THERE ARE FOUR SUBVENTED CENTRES OPERATED BY PRIVATE NON-PROFIT MAKING ORGANISATIONS PROVIDING ANOTHER 230 TRAINING PLACES.

MR DEVEREUX POINTED OUT THAT ON TOP OF THESE FACILITIES, THERE WERE SUPPORT SERVICES SUCH AS VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENT TO HELP A DISABLED PERSON TO PLAN HIS CAREER AND TO EXPLORE HIS POTENTIAL.

A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT SERVICE RUN BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WHICH IS A FREE EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE FOR DISABLED PEOPLE AND EMPLOYERS WAS GIVEN BY SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER MR CHU PING-IM DURING THE SEMINAR.

THE SPEECHES WERE FOLLOWED BY A SLIDE SHOW ON SELECTIVE PLACEMENT SERVICE AND GENERAL DISCUSSION AMONG THE PARTICIPANTS.

ADVICE FOR FIRE OFFICERS FROM OUT-GOING CHIEF *****

FIRE OFFICERS MUST BE PATIENT, FIRM, COMPASSIONATE AND SYMPATHETIC EVEN THOUGH THEY MAY SOMETIMES BE ABUSED, THE OUT-GOING DIRECTOR OF FIRE SERVICES, HR F.M. WATSON SAID TODAY.

+OTHER PEOPLE'S MISFORTUNES ARE OUR BUSINESS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE SICK OR INJURED, OR HAVE LOST THEIR HOME OR CHILD THROUGH FIRE OR OTHER CALAMITY, ARE UNDER A GREAT STRAIN AND USUALLY EXCITED AND GRIEF STRICKEN, MR WATSON TOLD A PASSING-OUT PARADE OF STATION OFFICERS AND AMBULANCEMEN AT THE FIRE SERVICES PAT HEUNG TRAINING SCHOOL.

HE ALSO CALLED ON THEM TO PROTECT OTHER PEOPLE'S BELONGINGS AND PROPERTY IF THEY ENTER THEIR HOMES IN THE COURSE OF DUTIES, AND NEVER TO ABUSE OR ALLOW OTHERS TO ABUSE SUCH POWERS.

MR WATSON TOLD THEM THAT DISCIPLINE WAS ESSENTIAL IN AN EMERGENCY SERVICE AND THAT THEY WERE EXPECTED TO OBEY ORDERS AT ALL TIMES WITHOUT QUESTION.

+BY YOUR DISCIPLINE, SKILL AND BEHAVIOUR YOU ARE JUDGED BY THE PUBLIC, MR WATSON SAID.

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