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EMPLOYMENT

During the year, the division launched a series of activities to promote the employment of the disabled. These included exhibitions; seminars; presentation of awards to outstanding employers and disabled employees; special campaigns to canvass vacancies; and publication of quarterly newsletters, pamphlets and guidebooks. With the assistance of Radio Television Hong Kong, a new series of television programmes was produced to promote the working abilities of the disabled and their integration into the community.

In June, the Governor chaired the Third Summit Meeting on Open Employment of People with a Disability, which was attended by major employers' associations and groups representing the disabled in Hong Kong. Promotional and publicity activities were launched after the meeting to enhance the employment opportunities of the disabled. Many statutory bodies and major organisations also responded to the Governor's appeal to set voluntary targets on employment of the disabled.

Careers Guidance

The Careers Advisory Service of the Labour Department, through the promotion of careers education, helps young people choose a career best suited to their talents, interests and abilities. It also provides careers guidance teachers with back-up information.

The service operates two careers information centres disseminating careers information through written and audio-visual materials. A new Careers Info Express bulletin board system was set up in August. Through computers equipped with modems, the public can have easy access to the careers materials produced by the department as well as the full catalogue of careers information available at the

centres.

The service also organises a wide range of activities to arouse the careers awareness of young people. The sixth Education and Careers Expo organised in February attracted nearly 180 000 visitors. More than 141 000 students took part in the 15th Careers Quiz, organised in November. Throughout the year, the service arranged student group visits to the careers information centres and various commercial and industrial establishments.

Foreign Workers

The Immigration Department controls the entry of foreign workers. Foreigners may work or invest in Hong Kong if they possess a special skill, knowledge or experience of value to and not readily available in Hong Kong, or if they can make a substantial contribution to the economy.

The department applies the policy in a flexible manner. Genuine businessmen and entrepreneurs are welcome to establish a presence in Hong Kong, bringing with them capital and expertise. Qualified professionals, technical staff, administrators and managerial personnel are also admitted with minimum formalities. During the year, 14 384 professionals and persons with technical, administrative or managerial skills from more than 50 countries were admitted for employment.

The government's policy on importation of labour is that:

(a) Local workers must be given priority in filling job vacancies available in the job

market.