XN000022-1986-02-06 — Page 19

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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1986

THIS REMINDER WAS GIVEN TODAY BY THE SENIOR LABOUR OFFICER IN CHARGE OF OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT SERVICE, MR LEUNG LIT-CHEONG.

UNDER THE CONTRACTS FOR EMPLOYMENT OUTSIDE HONG KONG ORDINANCE, IT IS ALSO AN OFFENCE IF THE EMPLOYER INDUCES A WORKER TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WHICH DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE ORDINANCE, OR COUNSELS A WORKER TO TAKE UP EMPLOYMENT BEFORE THE CONTRACT IS ATTESTED.

HE ALSO ADVISED LOCAL PEOPLE INTENDING TO WORK OUTSIDE HONG KONG TO ENSURE, IN THEIR OWN INTEREST, THAT THEIR EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS HAVE BEEN ATTESTED BY THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT BEFORE DEPARTURE.

ALTHOUGH HEAVY PENALTIES HAVE BEEN INTRODUCED UNDER THE ORDINANCE, MR LEUNG SAID, ENFORCEMENT OF THE LEGISLATION DEPENDED MUCH ON WORKERS INITIATIVE IN REPORTING OFFENDERS.

HE POINTED OUT THAT PERSONS RESPONDING TO ADVERTISEMENTS AND OTHER PUBLICITY REGARDING EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE HONG KONG SHOULD CHECK WHETHER THE EMPLOYERS WAS LOCALLY BASED, OR REPRESENTED BY A LOCAL AGENT.

+THEY CAN ALSO CONTACT THE OVERSEAS EMPLOYMENT SERVICE

FOR SUCH BACKGROUND INFORMATION, HE SAID.

+ON THE OTHER HAND, EMPLOYERS ARE WELCOME TO CONTACT THE SERVICE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON THE PROPER PROCEDURES TO RECRUIT WORKERS FOR EMPLOYMENT OUTSIDE HONG KONG.+

SINCE LAST SEPTEMBER, THE SERVICE HAS BEEN OPERATING AT THE DEPARTMENT'S HEADQUARTERS ON THE 12TH FLOOR OF HARBOUR BUILDING, 38 PIER ROAD, CENTRAL. THE TELEPHONES FOR ENQUIRIES ARE 5-8523535 AND 5-8523537.

A WHEELCHAIR THAT TAKES COMMANDS

*****

ENGINEERING GRADUATES IN A GOVERNMENT WORKSHOP HAVE BUILT WITH THE AID OF CHIPS A WHEELCHAIR THAT CAN LISTEN TO AND OBEY VERBAL COMMANDS.

THE WHEELCHAIR, POWERED BY A CAR BATTERY, CAN MOVE IN ANY DIRECTION, INCLUDING REVERSING.

IT HAS TAKEN FIVE WEEKS FOR THE 23 APPRENTICES UNDER TRAINING AT THE ELECTRICAL AND MECHANICAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT TO BUILD THE MECHANISED CHAIR CALLED SPEECH CONTROL POWERED WHEELCHAIR+ (SCPW).

THE TRAINING