XN000022-1994-02-02 — Page 7

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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 1994

THE

MRS WONG SAID FUNDS HAD ALSO BEEN MADE AVAILABLE TO DOUBLE SIZE OF THE MOBILE CREW FROM 30 TO 60 IN 1994/95 TO PROVIDE SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT FOR THE DISABLED.

SOME NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS HAVE RECENTLY COME UP WITH

A NUMBER OF NEW INITIATIVES ON SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT.

"THESE HAVE PROVED TO BE VERY EFFECTIVE IN ENHANCING THE INTEGRATION OF DISABLED PERSONS, SHE SAID.

"

"WE WILL CONTINUE то RENDER THE NECESSARY SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE IN THE PROCESS."

MR SZE, ON HIS SECOND DAY AS SECRETARY FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE, SAID THE GOVERNMENT, BEING THE LARGEST EMPLOYER IN HONG KONG, AIMED TO PLACE DISABLED PERSONS IN APPROPRIATE JOBS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE WHEREVER POSSIBLE.

HE SAID THE NUMBER OF DISABLED PERSONS EMPLOYED IN THE CIVIL SERVICE IN THE LAST 10 YEARS HAD GROWN FROM

1,432 TO 3,778, AN INCREASE OF 164 PER CENT,

IT HAS ALSO

"AS A PERCENTAGE OF THE TOTAL CIVIL SERVICE, INCREASED FROM 0.86 PER CENT TO 2.07 PER CENT, MR SZE SAID.

"HOWEVER, I AM NOT SUGGESTING THAT WE SHOULD FEEL COMPLACENT. WE ARE ALWAYS PREPARED TO REVIEW WHAT WE ARE DOING TO SEE IF ANY IMPROVEMENT COULD BE MADE.

++

MR SZE ALSO REVEALED THAT A NUMBER OF MEASURES HAD BEEN TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO PROMOTE THE EMPLOYMENT OF DISABLED PERSONS IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.

THESE INCLUDE A WIDE CIRCULATION OF VACANCY ADVERTISEMENTS TO DISABLED PERSONS THROUGH THE LABOUR DEPARTMENT AND VOLUNTARY AGENCIES, CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH'S ATTENDANCE AT SELECTION INTERVIEWS AND REGULAR PROMOTIONAL VISITS BY THE CIVIL SERVICE BRANCH, HEALTH AND WELFARE BRANCH AND LABOUR DEPARTMENT TO INDIVIDUAL DEPARTMENTS.

STATEMENT ON NEW AIRPORT PROPOSALS

IN ANSWER TO MEDIA QUESTIONS, A GOVERNMENT TODAY (WEDNESDAY):

SPOKESMAN SAID

"WE HAVE THIS AFTERNOON PASSED DETAILS OF OUR NEW FINANCING PROPOSALS FOR THE AIRPORT AND AIRPORT RAILWAY TO THE CHINESE SIDE. REPEATED OUR HOPE THAT THERE COULD BE AN EARLY MEETING OF THE COMMITTEE. WE ARE AWAITING THEIR RESPONSE."

WE

AIRPORT

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