XN000022-1986-10-03 — Page 11

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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1986

+TO FACILITATE THE IR EMPLOYMENT, WHERE NECESSARY, ALTERATIONS TO OFFICE PREMISES AND FITTINGS ARE MADE, AND SPECIAL EQUIPMENT IS - ALSO PROVIDED TO ASSIST THEM IN THEIR WORK, + HE ADDED.

THE SPOKESMAN SAID THE GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED THAT THE ABILITIES OF MANY DISABLED PERSONS FAR OUTWEIGHED THEIR DISABILITIES AND HOPED THAT MORE DISABLED PEOPLE WOULD BE EMPLOYED IN THE COMING YEAR.

MORE EMPLOYERS PROVIDING JOBS FOR DISABLED

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THERE HAS BEEN A SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYERS PROVIDING EMPLOYMENT FOR DISABLED WORKERS, THE COMMISSIONER FOR LABOUR, MR TONY HAMMOND, SAID TODAY (FRIDAY).

MR HAMMOND SAID THAT DURING THE 12-MONTH PERIOD ENDED JUNE THIS YEAR, 362 EMPLOYERS GAVE JOBS TO DISABLED PERSONS THROUGH THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT SERVICE OF THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT COMPARED WITH 221 IN THE CORRESPONDING PERIOD LAST YEAR.

+THE IR SUPPORT NOT ONLY HELPS DISABLED PERSONS TO DEMONSTRATE THE IR ABILITIES AT WORK BUT ALSO TO LEAD AN INDEPENDENT LIFE,+ HE SAID.

MR HAMMOND WAS SPEAKING AT A LABOUR DEPARTMENT CEREMONY AT WHICH SOUVENIRS WERE PRESENTED TO 10 EMPLOYERS WHO HAD EMPLOYED THE LARGEST NUMBER OF DISABLED PERSONS DURING THE 12-MONTH PERIOD.

HE NOTED THAT THREE OF THE EMPLOYERS WERE GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS THE MOST GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS MAKING UP THE TOP 10 SINCE THE FIRST AWARD CEREMONY WAS HELD IN 1981.

+THIS IS VERY ENCOURAGING BECAUSE AS THE GOVERNMENT IS THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN HONG KONG, IT SHOULD TAKE THE LEAD IN THE EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED PEOPLE,+ MR HAMMOND SAID.

THE EMPLOYERS WERE EACH AWARDED A SOUVENIR PLAQUE AS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION. THEY WERE LO'S CLEANING SERVICES LTD, SECURITY

Co. ALLIANCE LTD, HONG KONG SECURITY LTD, RELIANCE SERVICES LTD, CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT, SWIRE MAGNETICS LTD, SEVEN SEAS CANDLES LTD, ELECTROLUX SERVICES (HK) LTD, MEDICAL AND HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT.

ANOTHER SIX EMPLOYERS WHO HAD MADE SPECIAL EFFORTS TO RE-ARRANGE DUTIES AND REDEPLOY STAFF IN A BID TO ACCOMMODATE DISABLED EMPLOYEES WERE ALSO PRESENTED CERTIFICATES OF APPRECIATION.

/THEY WERE