XN000022-1992-03-17 — Page 4

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TUESDAY, MARCH 17, 1992

FOR THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES, THE RELOCATION OF THE MORE LABOUR-INTENSIVE PROCESSES ACROSS THE BORDER AND THE NEED TO GO FOR HIGHER VALUE-ADDED PRODUCTION LOCALLY HAVE RESULTED IN AN UPGRADING OF THE OCCUPATIONAL PROFILE.

SIMILARLY, TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS WITHIN THE SERVICES INDUSTRIES WILL LEAD TO REDUCTION IN THE REQUIREMENT FOR LOW-SKILLED WORKERS.

AS A RESULT, EMPLOYMENT OF PROFESSIONAL, TECHNICAL AND MANAGERIAL WORKERS IS PROJECTED TO GROW RAPIDLY WHILE EMPLOYMENT OF PRODUCTION AND RELATED WORKERS WILL DECLINE.

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THIS MEANS THAT SOME 90,400 MORE WORKERS WILL BE EMPLOYED PROFESSIONAL, TECHNICAL AND MANAGERIAL OCCUPATIONS, THE SPOKESMAN POINTED OUT.

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THE ANNUAL GROWTH RATE IS ABOUT 3.5 PER CENT, COMPARED WITH THE 2.9 PER CENT PREVIOUSLY PROJECTED.

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ON THE OTHER HAND, PRODUCTION WORKERS AND RELATED OCCUPATIONS PROJECTED TO LOSE ALMOST 36,000 WORKERS, OR AT AN ANNUAL RATE OF 0.6 PER CENT.

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COMPARING THE PROJECTED MANPOWER SUPPLY AND REQUIREMENTS, SPOKESMAN SAID THERE WOULD BE A SURPLUS OF 84,000 WORKERS WITH LOWER SECONDARY OR BELOW EDUCATION IN 1996.

HOWEVER, HE SAID SHORTFALLS WERE EXPECTED TO EXIST AT OTHER EDUCATIONAL LEVELS, THAT IS, 52,400 WORKERS AT UPPER SECONDARY LEVEL, 21,600 AT SIXTH FORM LEVEL, AND 6,100 AT FIRST DEGREE AND ABOVE LEVEL.

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"THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT THERE WILL BE EXCESS WORKERS WITH ONLY SECONDARY AND BELOW EDUCATION, BUT RATHER IMPLIES THAT SOME OF WORKERS WILL BE WORKING IN JOBS WHICH REQUIRE EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS HIGHER THAN WHAT THEY POSSESS,' THE SPOKESMAN ADDED.

THE PROJECTION OF THE MANPOWER SUPPLY AND REQUIREMENTS STUDY IS AIMED AT ASSESSING WHETHER, UNDER THE EXISTING AND PLANNED EDUCATION PROVISIONS, THE MIX OF MANPOWER SUPPLY IN TERMS OF EDUCATIONAL LEVEL WILL BE BROADLY IN LINE WITH THE FUTURE NEEDS OF THE ECONOMY.

IT DOES NOT ADDRESS THE QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A LABOUR SHORTAGE OR WHETHER IMPORTATION OF LABOUR IS JUSTIFIED.

IT IS PRIMARILY CONCERNED WITH DETERMINING WHAT KIND OF EDUCATION THE POPULATION SHOULD POSSESS TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ECONOMY DEVELOPMENT.

IN THE LATEST STUDY, THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT THE RECENT TRENDS IN SUCH FACTORS AS MIGRATION OF PEOPLE IN AND OUT OF HONG KONG, PATTERN OF INDUSTRIAL AND OCCUPATIONAL EMPLOYMENT AND LABOUR FORCE PARTICIPATION, WHICH ARE AFFECTING BOTH MANPOWER AND MANPOWER REQUIREMENTS AT AN EDUCATIONAL LEVEL.

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