XN000022-1994-01-26 — Page 29

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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 1994

HONG KONG'S EXTERNAL TRADE STATISTICS ARE COMPILED ON THE BASIS OF

INFORMATION REPORTED ON IMPORT AND EXPORT DECLARATIONS WHICH ARE MATCHED AGAINST CARGO MANIFESTS TO ENSURE THE COMPLETE COVERAGE OF GOODS IMPORTED AND EXPORTED.

AND SAID.

"GOODS REPORTED ON MANIFESTS BUT UNDECLARED WILL BE IDENTIFIED EVENTUALLY CAPTURED IN THE TRADE STATISTICS SYSTEM," MR CARTLAND

"BECAUSE SMUGGLED GOODS ARE NON-MANIFESTED, THEY DO NOT APPEAR IN THE TRADE STATISTICS AND IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO ESTIMATE ACCURATELY THE VALUE OF GOODS SMUGGLED," HE SAID.

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PLANS TO REVIEW OPERATION OF SHELTERED WORKSHOPS

THE

GOVERNMENT PLANS TO REVIEW THE CURRENT SHELTERED WORKSHOP SYSTEM IN HONG KONG, THE SECRETARY FOR HEALTH AND WELFARE, MRS ELIZABETH WONG, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).

IN A WRITTEN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON CHEUNG MAN-KWONG, MRS WONG SAID THE REVIEW WOULD ADDRESS ISSUES INVOLVED IN THE OPERATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SHELTERED WORKSHOPS.

"THE AIM IS TO MAKE SHELTERED WORKSHOPS MORE COMMERCIALLY ORIENTED, TO IMPROVE VOCATIONAL SKILLS OF SHELTERED WORKERS AND TO ENHANCE THEIR OPEN EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES," SHE ADDED.

LAST YEAR, OVER 500 DIFFERENT SOURCES OF JOB ORDERS WERE ACQUIRED BY SHELTERED WORKSHOPS, OF WHICH 95 PER CENT WERE FROM THE COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL SECTORS AND THE REST FROM THE GOVERNMENT.

JOB ORDERS WERE OBTAINED EITHER BY WORKSHOP STAFF WHO DIRECTLY APPROACHED POTENTIAL JOB ORDER SUPPLIERS OR THROUGH REFERRAL BY OTHER JOB SUPPLIERS, SHELTER WORKSHOPS, GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS AND WELFARE

AGENCIES.

MAJOR PRODUCTS PLACED BY THESE ORDERS INCLUDED ASSEMBLING LIGHT INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS, TOYS, FAMILY CONSUMABLE AND STATIONERY; PACKAGING EATING UTENSIL SETS FOR FAST FOOD RESTAURANTS AND AIRLINE COMPANIES; TOILETRIES FOR HOTELS; GIFT SETS FOR SUPERMARKETS AND RETAIL SHOPS; PROCESSING MAILING PACKETS; SEWING; PRINTING; AND BOOK-BINDING.

WITH A

THE MONTHLY INCOME OF WORKERS IN THE GOVERNMENT-RUN AND SUBVENTED SHELTERED WORKSHOPS RANGE FROM $500 TO $1,800, MONTHLY AVERAGE OF $700 PER PERSON.

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