XN000022-1986-12-04 — Page 12

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1986

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INSURANCE TRAINING CENTRE HAS IMPORTANT ROLE

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HONG KONG IS TOO IMPORTANT AN INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL CENTRE TO BE WITHOUT AN INSURANCE TRAINING CENTRE, THE CHAIRMAN OF THE INSURANCE TRAINING BOARD OF THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL, MR KO YING, SAID TODAY (THURSDAY).

SPEAKING AT THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE INSURANCE TRAINING CENTRE, MR KO SAID THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG HAD BEEN IN TRANSITION. CHANGES IN PERSONNEL, PRODUCTS AND LAWS MADE UPDATING AND UPGRADING TRAINING OF INSURANCE WORKERS VITAL.

+ THE TRAINING BOARD FIRMLY BELIEVES THAT A TRAINING CENTRE OPERATED BY THE COUNCIL WILL PROVIDE MORE FLEXIBILITY AND BETTER CO-ORDINATION FOR THE INDUSTRY IN TERMS OF TRAINING CURRICULA AND FACILITIES, HE SAID.

THE BOARD WAS OPEN TO SUGGESTIONS IN ORDER TO MAKE THE CENTRE MORE EFFECTIVE AND EFFICIENT, HE ADDED.

THE COUNCIL'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, MR MORRIS MORGAN, EXPLAINED THAT THE TRAINING CENTRE, THE FIRST COMMERCIAL CENTRE OPERATED BY THE COUNCIL, WAS SET UP FOLLOWING A SERIES OF SURVEYS.

THESE CONFIRMED A NEED FOR TRAINING COURSES WHICH OUGHT TO BE WORK-BASED, NARROWLY DEFINED AND OF SHORT DURATION.

HOWEVER, HE EMPHASISED THAT THE CENTRE WOULD NOT BE SUCCESSFUL WITHOUT CONTINUOUS SUPPORT FROM EMPLOYERS. EMPLOYERS SHOULD MAKE THE BEST USE OF THE CENTRE BY SENDING STAFF FOR TRAINING AND ENCOURAGING EXPERIENCED STAFF TO BE GUEST LECTURERS, MR MORGAN ADDED.

AT PRESENT, THE CENTRE OFFERS FIVE FULL-TIME AND EIGHT PART-TIME COURSES RANGING FROM GENERAL AND LIFE INSURANGE TO LIABILITY OR NON-LIABILITY CLAIMS, SURVEYING, RISK MANAGEMENT AND SALES TECHNIQUES

THE CENTRE'S MANAGER, MR D.S. HANSELL, SAID THE COURSES WERE INTENDED TO HELP INSURANCE PERSONNEL TO UNDERSTAND THEIR OWN INDUSTRY BETTER TO RECOGNISE THE LEGAL AND ETHICAL PRINCIPLES ON WHICH IT WAS BASED AND ALSO IN THE CONTEXT OF A PRACTICAL DEMONSTRATION AND REVIEW OF INSURANCE PRACTICE LOCALLY.

+AS A CONSEQUENCE, OUR COURSES ARE ENTIRELY +HOME-PRODUCED+. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY EXAMINATIONS OR CERTIFICATES OF ACHIEVEMENT. WE DO NOT FOLLOW ANY TEXTBOOKS OR PREPARED SYLLABUS OF ANY INSURANCE AUTHORITY, WE PRODUCE ALL OF OUR OWN MATERIALS,+ HE SAID.

WHEN FULLY OPERATIONAL, THE CENTRE WILL CATER FOR ABOUT 1 000 TRAINEES YEARLY, WITH OVER 30 COURSES OF VARYING DURATIONS.

SINCE IT BEGAN WORK ON SEPTEMBER 29, ABOUT 300 TRAINEES FROM 95 INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE COMPLETED TRAINING IN 13 COURSES.

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