HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(23) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:-
It is understood that a large number of jobs is available in industries which may be suitable for some of the pedlar hawkers who may wish to work in factories. Before they can be employed in these factories, they must receive some technical training to fit them for their work. Would Government be prepared to supply free technical training for those hawkers who wish to be employed in factories, and give them a free course of training in the evening if the district Kaifong welfare associations would assist by providing suitable premises?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
Government facilities for technical education and vocational training are available to members of the public with appropriate educational qualifications, entry being decided by examination if a course has too many applicants. A charge is made for instruction, but a percentage of free places is available. In addition some firms have their own vocational training schemes.
The question of the employment of hawkers in industry has been raised recently in this Council and is at present under consideration by the Hawkers Select Committee and the Urban Services Department in consultation with the Labour Department. Particular study is being made of the need to make known the facilities offered by the Labour Department's new Employment Information Service.
I have no doubt that the question of technical and vocational training will be included in these discussions, although it is of course one which affects the community as a whole. The existence of vocational training schemes run by private firms will be made known to persons applying to the Employment Information Service for information on vacancies notified by firms offering such training schemes.
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:- Mr. Chairman, since Mr. FUNG Hon-chu has expressed an interest in this subject, may I ask the Chairman of the Hawkers Select Committee, through you, whether he would have any objection to inviting Mr. FUNG to attend the meeting of the Hawkers Select Committee, which will most probably be discussing this subject some time at the end of October after Mr. SALES has returned from his Olympic ventures? I understand that by that time a paper will have been prepared.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
MR. BERNACCHI :- Indeed, Mr. Chairman, I would be delighted to invite Mr. FUNG Hon-chu to the appropriate meeting of the Hawkers Select Committee.
MR. FUNG: I would be glad to attend the meeting, Mr. Chairman.
MR. RAFEEK --- Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your reply to my question.
(24) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:
In view of the recent Typhoon "Ida" having caused a major landslide of some 1,500 tons of mud in a resettlement area, with resultant loss of lives and heavy material damage to property and inconvenience to residents, and another heavier landslide of hundreds of thousands of tons of mud after the torrential downpours of a week or so ago, would Government consider the suggestion that in future every precaution is taken to ensure that there will be no recurrence of such a nature, and send competent supervisors to inspect all resettlement areas to see that necessary actions are taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future?
THE DIRECTOR of Public Works replied as follows:-
The question suggests that adequate precautions have not been taken in the past. This is not so. A detailed reply to this question has been given in reply to an earlier question on the same subject. I will therefore now limit myself to repeating that there must always be an element of risk during the typhoon season when large-scale earth moving operations lasting several years are being carried out. Insurance Companies have good reasons for treating typhoons and heavy rainstorms as "Acts of God" as it is impossible to predict the combination of circumstances which might occur during such storms.
MR. RAFEEK:— Mr. Chairman, I am obliged to the Director of Public Works for his reply.
(25) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:
A big fire occurred in August at Tai Hom the cause of which is attributed to the flimsy roofing materials having been
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HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
(23) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:-
It is understood that a large number of jobs is available in industries which may be suitable for some of the pedlar hawkers who may wish to work in factories. Before they can be employed in these factories, they must receive some technical training to fit them for their work. Would Government be prepared to supply free technical training for those hawkers who wish to be employed in factories, and give them a free course of training in the evening if the district Kaifong welfare associations would assist by providing suitable premises?
THE CHAIRMAN replied as follows:-
Government facilities for technical education and vocational
training are available to members of the public with appro- priate educational qualifications, entry being decided by examination if a course has too many applicants. A charge is made for instruction, but a percentage of free places is available. In addition some firms have their own voca- tional training schemes.
The question of the employment of hawkers in industry has been raised recently in this Council and is at present under consideration by the Hawkers Select Committee and the Urban Services Department in consultation with the Labour Department. Particular study is being made of the need to make known the facilities offered by the Labour Department's new Employment Information
Service.
I have no doubt that the question of technical and vocational training will be included in these discussions, although it is of course one which affects the community as a whole. The existence of vocational training schemes run by private firms will be made known to persons applying to the Employment Information Service for information vacancies notified by firms offering such training schemes.
on
MR. CHEONG-LEEN:-Mr. Chairman, since Mr. FUNG Hon-chu has expressed an interest in this subject, may I ask the Chairman of the Hawkers Select Committee, through you, whether he would have any objection to inviting Mr. FUNG to attend the meeting of the Hawkers Select Committee, which will most probably be discussing this subject some time at the end of October after Mr. SALES has returned from his Olympic ventures? I understand that by that time a paper will have been prepared.
HONG KONG URBAN COUNCIL
263
MR. BERNACCHI :-Indeed, Mr. Chairman, I would be delighted to invite Mr. FUNG Hon-chu to the appropriate meeting of the Hawkers Select Committee.
MR. FUNG: I would be glad to attend the meeting, Mr. Chairman.
MR. RAFEEK ---Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your reply to my question.
(24) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:
In view of the recent Typhoon "Ida" having caused a major landslide of some 1,500 tons of mud in a resettlement area, with resultant loss of lives and heavy material damage to property and inconvenience to residents, and another heavier landslide of hundreds of thousands of tons of mud after the torrential downpours of a week or so ago, would Government consider the suggestion that in future every precaution is taken to ensure that there will be no recur- rence of such a nature, and send competent supervisors to inspect all resettlement areas to see that necessary actions are taken to prevent similar occurrences in the future?
THE DIRECTOR of Public WORKS replied as follows:-
The question suggests that adequate precautions have not been taken in the past. This is not so. A detailed reply to this question has been given in reply to an earlier question on the same subject. I will therefore now limit myself to repeating that there must always be an element of risk during the typhoon season when large-scale earth moving operations lasting several years are being carried out. Insurance Companies have good reasons for treating typhoons and heavy rainstorms as "Acts of God" as it is impossible to predict the combination of circumstances which might occur during such storms.
MR. RAFEEK:—Mr. Chairman, I am obliged to the Director of Public Works for his reply.
(25) MR. SOLOMON RAFEEK asked the following question:
A big fire occurred in August at Tai Hom the cause of which is attributed to the flimsy roofing materials having been
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