XN000022-1994-02-02 — Page 2

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1994

ACTION PLAN TO HELP DISABLED IN EMPLOYMENT

THE GOVERNOR, THE RT HON CHRISTOPHER PATTEN, TODAY SETS OUT AN ACTION PROGRAMME WHICH THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO PURSUE FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF THE DISABLED OVER THE NEXT YEAR.

SPEAKING TO REPORTERS AFTER CHAIRING THE SUMMIT MEETING ON OPEN EMPLOYMENT FOR DISABLED PERSONS, MR PATTEN SAID THE PROGRAMME INCLUDED:

* PUTTING MORE RESOURCES INTO EDUCATION AND DISABILITY AND HANDICAP;

COUNSELING ABOUT

* PRODUCING BOOKLETS TO HELP THE DISABLED AT INTERVIEWS AND THOSE WHO WILL WORK WITH THE DISABLED UNDERSTAND THEIR POTENTIALS; AND

INCREASING THE NUMBER OF CIVIL SERVICE VACANCIES FOR THE

DISABLED.

THESE ARE WAYS TO HELP THE GOVERNMENT TAKE A LEAD IN EMPLOYING DISABLED PERSONS, THE GOVERNOR SAID.

MR PATTEN SAID REPRESENTATIVES FOR EMPLOYERS AND VOLUNTARY GROUPS HAD AGREED IN THE MEETING TO LOOK AT HIS PROPOSALS.

HE ALSO HOPES THAT EMPLOYERS CAN, FOR EXAMPLE, SET OUT IN THEIR ANNUAL REPORTS A FULL STATEMENT ON THEIR POLICY AND APPROACH TO EMPLOYING THE DISABLED.

ANOTHER WAY IS FOR EMPLOYERS TO COMMIT THEMSELVES TO VOLUNTARY TARGETS AS THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE TO INCREASE THE EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE DISABLED.

THE GOVERNMENT AIMS TO PUSH THE TARGET UP TO 4,000, THE

GOVERNOR SAID.

TO SHARE THE EXPERIENCE OF NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS OF COUNSELING AND REHABILITATION WORK, MR PATTEN INTENDS TO HOLD A SIMILAR MEETING NEXT YEAR TO REPORT ON PROGRESS.

"I THINK THESE ANNUAL SUMMITS WITH EMPLOYERS AND DISABILITY GROUPS ARE A VERY IMPORTANT WAY OF BROADENING OPPORTUNITY IN HONG KONG AND IN THAT WAY, WE ARE NOT ONLY GIVING PROPER JUSTICE TO THE DISABLED BUT WE ARE ALSO DOING OURSELVES A FAVOUR BY HELPING TO DEVELOP OUR ECONOMY," HE SAID.

MR PATTEN SAID HONG KONG COULD NOT AFFORD TO THROW AWAY THE ABILITIES OF THE DISABLED WHOSE SKILL COULD HELP THE TERRITORY DEVELOP AT ITS FASTEST POSSIBLE SPEED.

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