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The Education and Manpower Bureau (EMB) will hold the "Skills Upgrading Scheme Carnival 2006" today and Sunday (February 18-19) at the East Point Road and Great George Street Pedestrian Precinct in Causeway Bay. During the two-day event, Skills Upgrading Scheme trainees will run booths to show the public the skills they have acquired.
Speaking at the launch ceremony today, Deputy Secretary for Education and Manpower, Mr Edward Yau, said since the trainees had benefited from the government financial subsidies, they had decided to donate the funds raised at the carnival to the Hong Kong Community Chest. He commended them on their generosity.
The Skills Upgrading Scheme Promotion Ambassador, Actress Nancy Sit Ka-yin, also urged employers and employees to continue supporting the scheme. She encouraged more in-service workers to pursue continuing education in order to upgrade their skills for the future development of Hong Kong.
The two-day carnival will showcase booths and marquees set up by the trainees to give the public a better understanding of their respective industries. Other programmes include singing, hairdressing shows, Kung-fu performances, drama, food and beverages and games booths.
The Skills Upgrading Scheme was launched in September 2001 by the EMB to provide specific skills upgrading training to those in-service workers with lower educational attainment, to enhance their employability and competitiveness in the labour market.
The scheme now covers 23 industries -- printing; Chinese catering; import and export trade; clothing apparel/textile; transport; retail; tourism; hairdressing; electrical and mechanical engineering; property management; insurance; hotel; real estate; beauty care; building maintenance and decoration; films, TV and entertainment; recreation and sports; passenger transport; elderly care; horticulture and floral arts; health and medical care; clocks, watch and jewellery; and automobile. Since its inception, the scheme has offered more than 500 courses benefiting over 140,000 in-service workers.
Ends/Saturday, February 18, 2006
Issued at HKT 17:30
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