XN000022-1985-04-02 — Page 7

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TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 1985

ALL APPLICANTS ARE MEANS-TESTED.

A STUDENT FROM A POOR FAMILY MAY EXPECT TO RECEIVE AN OUTRIGHT GRANT, MAKING UP THE FULL DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OVERSEAS AND HOME STUDENTS' RATES OF CHARGE.

FOR 1984-85, THE TOTAL CONTRIBUTION JOINTLY ALLOCATED BY THE TWO GOVERNMENTS AMOUNTS TO 3.8M POUNDS STERLING.

IN ADDITION, 22 STUDENTS WHO DID NOT SUBMIT THEIR APPLICATIONS IN TIME TO QUALIFY FOR GRANTS UNDER THE JOINT FUNDING SCHEME WERE OFFERED INTEREST-FREE LOANS TOTALLING $518 900. THE LOANS ARE SOLELY FINANCED BY THE HONG KONG GOVERNMENT.

ACCEPTANCE AND PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS FOR THE 1985-86 ACADEMIC YEAR WILL START LATER THIS MONTH, AND DETAILS WILL BE RELEASED NEARER THE TIME.

REPORT SETS OUT TECHNICAL MANPOWER NEEDS

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A REPORT, PROVIDING THE GOVERNMENT WITH USEFUL INFORMATION IN EVOLVING POLICIES FOR BRINGING ABOUT A BALANCED SUPPLY OF TECHNICAL MANPOWER, HAS BEEN PUBLISHED BY THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.

THE +REPORT ON DEMAND FOR AND SUPPLY OF TECHNICAL MANPOWER IN THE MAJOR INDUSTRIES+ WILL ALSO HELP EMPLOYERS IN FORMULATING THEIR TRAINING POLICIES AND CAREERS GUIDANCE OFFICERS AND YOUNG PEOPLE IN IDENTIFYING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN INDUSTRY, THE SPOKESMAN FOR THE COUNCIL SAID.

THE REPORT CONCLUDES THAT THE AGGREGATED DEMAND FOR TECHNICAL MANPOWER AT TECHNOLOGIST LEVEL IN MAJOR INDUSTRIES IS IN THE RANGE OF 1 250 TO 1 400 PER ANNUM.

+AFTER ALLOWING FOR THE EFFECTS OF PARTICIPATION RATE, THAT IS THE PERCENTAGE OF GRADUATES WHO WILL GO INTO EMPLOYMENT IN THEIR RESPECTIVE FIELDS OF STUDY, THE ESTIMATED AVERAGE ANNUAL SUPPLY OF TECHNOLOGIST GRADUATES FROM 1984 TO 1987 IS ABOUT 1 200,+ THE REPORT SAYS.

THOUGH THE SUPPLY OF TECHNOLOGISTS APPEARS TO BE SLIGHTLY UNDER THE FORECAST DEMAND, THE DEFICIENCY SHOULD BE ABLE TO BE MET BY THE OUTPUT FROM COURSES IN THE VARIOUS BRANCHES OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY TO BE OFFERED BY THE CITY POLYTECHNIC, THE REPORT SAYS.

SAT TECHNICIAN