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The Selective Placement Division (SPD) of the Labour Department helped more than 2,000 disabled job-seekers secure employment from January to October this year, with a record-high placement rate of 64.4%.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony of the Outstanding Disabled Employees Award and Enlightened Employers Award today (November 21), the Permanent Secretary for Economic Development and Labour, Mr Matthew Cheung Kin-chung, said that the SPD had provided employment services for people with a disability for 27 years and had so far helped more than 37,000 job-seekers with disabilities secure employment in the open market.
"Apart from proactive promotion by the Government, the support and participation of employers, rehabilitation groups and the community are vitally important in enhancing the employment of disabled people in the open market. I hope that all employers can provide more job opportunities for disabled people to develop their potential and give them a chance to contribute to society," Mr Cheung said.
He commended winners of the Enlightened Employer Award for setting shining examples for other employers. He believed that they would play a positive role in motivating more employers to employ disabled people and thus help create an equitable, open and integrated society in Hong Kong.
Mr Ronald Arculli, a member of the Executive Council, also officiated at the ceremony. He said that the 12 outstanding disabled employees for this year were not at all disheartened by their physical handicaps. On the contrary, they had overcome many obstacles through perseverance and courage. Consequently, their outstanding work performance earned them the appreciation of their employers.
Mr Arculli said that the success stories of the winning disabled employees demonstrated that both disabled people and ordinary people had their respective talents. As long as they were given equal employment opportunities, they could also develop their potential in the workplace and contribute to the community.
The 12 outstanding disabled employees this year are Ms Wong Miu-kit, a senior data entry clerk; Mr Choi Poon-hoi, a gardener; Mr Cheung Kin-fai, an assistant clerical officer; Mr Wong Man-yu, an assistant in the catering sector; Ms Lam Heung-ling, a human resources assistant; Mr Chin Yu-sun, a carpark attendant; Mr Cheng Man-kin, a designer; Mr Ng Lin-tai, a foreman; Ms Chan Ka-yi, a pantry helper; Mr Wong Lai-chiu, an office assistant; Mr Liu Chuan-yuan, a deputy head in charge of binding work; and Ms Lau Mei-yu, a service assistant.
The 10 enlightened employers who made special efforts in employing people with disabilities are the Allwin Employment Centre Limited, Best Soup Limited, Choi Fung Hong Company Limited, Cushman & Wakefield (HK) Limited, EGR MART LIMITED, Inland Revenue Department, Oshmens Corporation Limited, Warnaco (HK) Limited, Yu San Motor Cleaning Services Company and Yuen Fong Food Company Limited.
The award presentation ceremony has been held annually by the department since 1989 to commend outstanding disabled employees or/and enlightened employers with a view to enhancing public understanding of the working abilities of the disabled and encouraging more employers to offer them job opportunities.
Ends/Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Issued at HKT 16:47
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