XN000022-1987-03-12 — Page 15

THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 1987

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MORE AUTOMOBILE WORKERS NEEDED TO MEET DEMAND

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THE WORKFORCE IN THE COMMERCIAL VEHICLE MAINTENANCE SECTOR WILL CONTINUE TO GROW AT A STEADY RATE, ACCORDING TO THE 1986 MANPOWER SURVEY REPORT ON THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY BY THE VOCATIONAL TRAINING COUNCIL.

THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TOWNS IN THE NEW TERRITORIES AND THE INCREASE IN COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITIES IN HONG KONG AND ACROSS THE BORDER WOULD INCREASE THE DEMAND FOR COMMERCIAL VEHICLES, SAID THE REPORT RECENTLY PUBLISHED BY THE COUNCIL'S AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD.

HOWEVER, MANPOWER REQUIRED IN THE PRIVATE CAR MAINTENANCE SECTOR WOULD REMAIN STAGNANT IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE BECAUSE OF THE REDUCTION OF THE PRIVATE CAR POPULATION AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ANNUAL COMPULSORY INSPECTION, A COUNCIL SPOKESMAN SAID.

THE SURVEY REVEALED THAT THE TOTAL WORKFORCE OF THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY REMAINED STAGNANT FROM 1984 TO 1986 AT 12 223, MAINLY BECAUSE OF WEAKER DEMAND FOR REPAIRING SERVICES AS A RESULT OF THE CONTINUING DECLINE IN THE NUMBER OF PRIVATE CARS OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS.

BASED ON THE FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY, THE BOARD FORECAST THAT AN ADDITIONAL 340 CRAFTSMEN, 30 TECHNICIANS AND SIX TECHNOLOGISTS WOULD BE REQUIRED EACH YEAR UP TO 1992 TO MEET MANPOWER DEMAND.

THE BOARD CONSIDERED THAT THE COUNCIL'S AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY TRAINING CENTRE HAD BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN BRINGING ABOUT AN ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF PROPERLY TRAINED TECHNICIAN AND CRAFT TRAINEES FOR THE INDUSTRY.

THE CENTRE PROVIDES FULL-TIME BASIC TECHNICIAN AND CRAFT COURSES OF ONE YEAR AND SIX-MONTH DURATION TO SOME 3D TECHNICIANS AND 310 CRAFT TRAINEES.

OTHER DETAILS CONTAINED IN THE REPORT ARE MANPOWER STRUCTURE, THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON TRAINING ROUTES.

THE REPORT IS ON SALE AT THE GOVERNMENT PUBLICATIONS CENTRE AT $10 PER COPY.

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