ENG-1973 — Page 80

EMPLOYMENT

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A six-week training course for safety officers in industry and a number of special courses and seminars in conjunction with leading firms were also held. Subjects rang- ing from safety in the construction industry to fire prevention and the use of protective clothing were discussed. The centre maintains a permanent display of personal pro- tective items and machinery fitted with a variety of safety guards. It also prepares booklets and posters on industrial safety.

The department staged Hong Kong's first major industrial safety exhibition during the Chinese Manufacturers' Association Fair in December. The exhibition, held with the support of a wide range of commercial and industrial firms, was attended by more than 900,000 visitors.

The local employment service introduces job-seekers to prospective employers and vice versa. During the year, the service registered 30,345 job-seekers, recorded 8,715 employers' orders, and helped 5,434 workers find employment.

The youth employment advisory service continued with its second stage of development which involved group guidance in the form of careers talks to senior students in secondary schools and young people in youth centres. The dissemination of careers information has been further expanded during the year, and 395 talks were given in 109 schools and youth centres to some 21,000 students. The service also organised and participated in careers seminars and exhibitions providing careers information to students, teachers, parents and interested individuals. The service's second careers exhibition was held at the Chinese Manufacturers' Association Fair site from November 23 to December 2. Some 30 exhibitors from industry, commerce and the government took part in the exhibition, which attracted tens of thousands of visitors, the majority of whom were secondary school students and teachers.

The Contracts for Overseas Employment Ordinance controls contracts of em- ployment entered into in Hong Kong between overseas employers and manual workers, including domestic servants, but excluding certain specific categories, pro- ceeding overseas for employment. During the year 701 contracts were attested.

Permission to work in Britain is given by the British Department of Employment. During the first quarter of the year, 115 permits were issued through the Labour Department, including one to Commonwealth citizens seeking unspecified employ- ment, 31 to local people of British nationality going to specific jobs, and 83 to local residents who are not of British nationality. Since a change in administrative arrange- ments in April 1973, work permits are issued to applicants through the Immigration Department.

Industrial Health

The industrial health unit of the Labour Department offers an advisory service to the government and industry on matters relating to the health of workers. The unit is primarily concerned with preventing occupational diseases and protecting workers against hazards in their working environment. These hazards are reported by the statutory notification of occupational diseases, by the factory inspectorate,