ENG-1988 — Page 128

EMPLOYMENT

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Careers Advisory Service in September, in order to reflect more accurately the nature of its work. Officers of the service delivered 440 careers talks in 215 schools and six voluntary agencies covering an audience of 76 830. The service also organised a series of regional careers projects in conjunction with the Vocational Training Council. About 115 000 students from 253 schools participated in the Careers Quiz which aimed at arousing their careers awareness. It also mounted a work orientation programme which enabled some 1 200 students from 45 schools to obtain a better insight into the world of work by visiting various establishments in the private and public sectors.

The 17th annual careers exhibition was held in December at the City Hall in collabora- tion with the Urban Council. Young people were given the chance to obtain information about a wide range of careers available in Hong Kong. Altogether, 22 exhibitors from commerce, industry, the services, professional bodies and the government took part in the 10-day exhibition which attracted some 90 500 visitors.

To promote careers education, the service organises annually a certificate course for careers teachers in co-operation with the University of Hong Kong, the Education Depart- ment and the Hong Kong Association of Careers Masters and Guidance Masters. A seminar was also held to provide a forum for careers teachers to update their knowledge on recent issues in careers guidance. The service regularly produces various careers publications which are distributed free of charge to schools, youth centres and other interested persons.

The service now operates three careers information centres. Each centre is fully equipped with a reference library and audio-visual recordings of information on employment and training opportunities. A total of 26 235 visitors used the centre's facilities in 1988.

Foreign Workers

The Immigration Department is responsible for controlling the entry of foreign workers for employment in Hong Kong. Generally speaking, foreigners who have special skills or experience of value to and not readily available in Hong Kong are allowed entry. Those who are able to contribute substantially to the economic well-being of Hong Kong, such as bankers and entrepreneurs and other persons whose activities are likely to stimulate local employment are also considered for entry. In all cases, normal immigration requirements must be met. The Immigration Department considers special cases in consultation with the Labour Department and other expert departments.

During the year, 9 896 professionals and other persons having technical expertise or administrative and managerial skills from over 30 countries were admitted for employment.

Foreign Domestic Helpers

The entry of foreign domestic helpers is subject to the condition that the employer is a bona fide resident of Hong Kong who is able to provide suitable accommodation to the helper and is willing to undertake his or her maintenance in Hong Kong and repatriation to the country of origin. The demand for foreign domestic helpers has increased steadily. At the end of the year, there were 45 154 foreign domestic helpers in Hong Kong, compared with 36 831 in 1987, representing an increase of 22.6 per cent. Of these, 41 700 are citizens of the Philippines.

Attestation of Employment Contracts for Foreign Domestic Helpers

For the purpose of controlling and protecting their employment conditions in Hong Kong, the Labour Department attested to 37 068 employment contracts for foreign domestic helpers in 1988.