No_4_December_1964 — Page 85

age to Lo Pan's temple. With crowds milling around him he burned in- cense, bowed low and humbly prayed that one day he would become fully fledged craftsmen and help erect many fine replicas of existing struc-

tures.

a

Lo Pan rarely disappointted. The set and revered pattern had been ad- hered to thoroughly. Sam had learn- ed to respect the tools of his trade. he had been steeped in the traditions, he worked hard.

a

Now, at 19, he used his first ham- mer, chisel. saw. He became member of the local Carpenters' Guild. His future was certain.

Sam's story was typical of ap- prenticeship in any trade in old China. The system of training quaint but practical still exists in Chinese communities, mainly where the business is small and the craft traditional.

But generally the old ways crum- bled under the ceaseless surge of progress, especially in Hong Kong. and little was done towards providing a new system. That workers worked was all that mattered to the majority of employers. Plentiful labour meant small wages, little security, few prospects and next to no interest in training youth for the future

this was left mainly to the few schools and classes provided by religious and welfare organisations which, while they did a good job. could not hope to cope with Hong Kong's increasing millions.

Then, а few months ago, the Building Contractors" Association, decided to lead the way. In con- junction with the Chinese Y.M.C.A., it formed a training centre for build- ing tradesmen on the ground floor of a resettlement block at Wang Tau Hom.

There at the moment 100 youths aged between 14 and 18 are under- going intensive training in carpentry, joinery, bricklaying, plastering and tiling.

A few firms jumped into help. One of them. Acrow Engineering has promised to supply steel formwork

The pictures on this page were also taken at the Training Centre, where 100 youths aged between 14 and 18 years are undergoing intensive schooling. Courses at the moment are limited, but eventually it is hoped to expand the activities of the Centre together with a big increase in en- rolment.

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