XN000022-1996-02-27 — Page 4

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He said the fact that the centre had been in operation for only six weeks might have some bearing on the placement rate and he was optimistic that given more time more local workers would be recruited through the job centre.

"Establishment of the job centre underlines our commitment to give employment priority to local workers," he stressed.

Mr Lam went on to cite statistics to show that more local workers had been recruited on ACP projects.

"At the end of January this year,'there were a total of 23,274 ACP workers of whom only 4,570 were from overseas. Local workers represent 80 per cent of the total ACP work force," he said.

"We've been telling contractors that they should employ local workers as far as possible, and this has been our target and commitment. In due course we'll consider bringing this message to sub-contractors and sub-sub-contractors."

Also speaking at the media briefing, the Secretary General of the Hong Kong Construction Association, Mr Patrick Chan, said: "We support the ACP Job Centre. The contractors are aware of the services provided by the centre.

"I think it's a question of the contractors getting used to making use of the services. Given more time, the centre will do better."

Mr Chan also cited statistics to show that more local workers had been employed in the construction industry.

"Last year we had 64,000 construction workers, while the 1994 figure was 57,000 - an increase of 7,000," he noted.

The Project Director of AA and Chairman of the ACP Job Centre's Management Committee, Mr Doug Oakervee, pledged to find out from contractors the reasons for their rejection of applicants after interviews.

"I think by working together with the contractors, and going though on a case- by-case basis, we will improve the actual situation greatly," he said,

End