XN000022-1992-07-15 — Page 27

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WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 1992

"THE

GOVERNMENT'S POLICY ON THE EMPLOYMENT OF MILDLY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS IS IN LINE WITH ITS GENERAL POLICY ON EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED PERSONS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE, WHICH IS ΤΟ PLACE THE DISABLED IN APPROPRIATE JOBS WITHIN THE CIVIL SERVICE WHEREVER POSSIBLE, SAID MR CHAN IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON LAU CHIN-SHEK IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL.

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HE NOTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS ALWAYS AWARE OF THE AVAILABILITY OF DISABLED PERSONS AS A SOURCE OF LABOUR SUPPLY.

THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT PROVIDES A FREE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT SERVICE TO MILDLY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS AND REFERS SUITABLE JOB SEEKERS TO THE RELEVANT GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS FOR JOB INTERVIEWS.

STAFF OF THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT DIVISION ALSO VISIT EMPLOYERS REGULARLY ΤΟ ADVISE THEM OF THE EMPLOYABILITY OF MILDLY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS AND TO MAKE USE OF ITS SERVICE TO EMPLOY SUCH PERSONS TO FILL THEIR VACANCIES.

IN ADDITION, IT ORGANISES A NUMBER OF PROMOTIONAL ACTIVITIES EVERY YEAR TO ENHANCE THE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

OF DISABLED PERSONS.

CITING STATISTICS, MR CHAN SAID THERE WERE 315 MILDLY AND MODERATELY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED PERSONS REGISTERED WITH THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT DIVISION IN 1989, 342 IN 1990 AND 336 IN 1991.

DURING THE SAME THREE-YEAR PERIOD, THE NUMBER OF REFERRALS FOR JOB INTERVIEWS WERE 421, 345 AND 279 RESPECTIVELY, WHILE THE NUMBER OF SUCH PERSONS PLACED IN EMPLOYMENT WERE 227 IN 1989, 206 IN 1990 AND 175 IN 1991.

MR CHAN SAID:

"SINCE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE SELECTIVE PLACEMENT DIVISION IN 1980, THE OPERATION, POLICY AND EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SERVICE HAVE BEEN PUT UNDER REGULAR REVIEW.

JOB

"IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT THE PRESENT SYSTEM OF PLACING DISABLED SEEKERS INTO OPEN EMPLOYMENT IS FAIRLY COMPREHENSIVE AND

EFFECTIVE.

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HE ADDED THAT A NUMBER OF OPTIONS FOR PROMOTING THE OPEN EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED PERSONS, INCLUDING THE MILDLY MENTALLY HANDICAPPED, HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED IN THE GREEN PAPER ON REHABILITATION.

'THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT WILL HAVE REGARD TO THESE OPTIONS IN ITS NEXT REGULAR REVIEW, HE SAID.

"

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