XN000022-1985-04-23 — Page 5

TUESDAY, APRIL 23, 1985

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COMPLEX HELPS MEET TRAINING NEEDS

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WITH INDUSTRIAL DIVERSIFICATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES, THERE HAS BEEN GREATER NEED FOR OFF-THE-JOB TRAINING IN RECENT YEARS, MR MORRIS MORGAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL SAID TODAY.

MR MORGAN SAID THAT WHEN THE FIVE TRAINING CENTRES OF THE KOWLOON BAY TRAINING CENTRES COMPLEX STARTED RECRUITING TRAINEES LAST YEAR, MORE THAN 10 000 PERSONS APPLIED FOR 630 PLACES.

MR MORGAN WAS SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AT A PRESS TOUR OF THE $110-MILLION COMPLEX THIS AFTERNOON.

HE POINTED OUT THAT THE KOWLOON BAY COMPLEX, WHICH HOUSES THE TRAINING CENTRES FOR MACHINE SHOP AND METAL WORKING, PRINTING, ELECTRONIC, PLASTICS AND HOTEL INDUSTRIES, WILL PROVIDE 4 600 TRAINING PLACES ANNUALLY WHEN IT BECOMES FULLY OPERATIONAL LATER THIS YEAR, WITH THE COMPLETION OF THE HOTEL INDUSTRY TRAINING CENTRE.

FOUR OF THE CENTRES HAD STARTED OPERATING TRAINING COURSES IN THE COMPLEX EARLIER THIS YEAR, AND HAD ALREADY GAINED A GOOD REPUTATION FOR OFF-THE-JOB TRAINING.

ALL CENTRES ARE EQUIPPED TO SIMULATE AS NEARLY AS POSSIBLE THE ACTUAL WORKING CONDITIONS IN INDUSTRY,

+THE AIM IS FOR TRAINEES TO BE EXPOSED TO AN INDUSTRIAL ENVIRONMENT RIGHT FROM THE BEGINNING OF THEIR TRAINING, + MR MORGAN SAID.

BY OFFERING A TOTAL OF 18 FULL-TIME AND TWO PART-TIME COURSES RANGING FROM 30 HOURS TO ONE YEAR IN LENGTH, THE FIVE TRAINING CENTRES PROVIDE PRACTICAL TRAINING IN VARIOUS TRADES AT OPERATIVE, CRAFT, TECHNICIAN AND TECHNOLOGIST LEVELS.

+THIS EFFORT IS TO ENSURE THAT A STEADY SUPPLY OF WELL-TRAINED MANPOWER IS MADE AVAILABLE TO SUSTAIN THE GROWTH OF THE LOCAL INDUSTRIES,+ MR MORGAN SAID.

+TO ENCOURAGE MORE YOUNG PEOPLE TO TAKE UP INDUSTRIAL TRAINING BEFORE ENTERING EMPLOYMENT, WEEKLY ALLOWANCES ARE PAID TO FULL-TIME TRAINEES.

+IN ADDITION, FULL-TIME TRAINEES AT CRAFT AND TECHNICIAN LEVELS WILL BE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE COMPLEMENTARY EDUCATION AT TECHNICAL INSTITUTES ON A DAY-RELEASE BASIS.+

UPON COMPLETION OF THE TRAINING AT THE CENTRES, THE TRAINEES WILL BE ABLE TO ENTER INDUSTRY OR COMMERCE FOR FURTHER JOB EXPERIENCE OR BECOME APPRENTICES AND RECEIVE ADDITIONAL TRAINING ON THE JOB.

A RECRUITMENT