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The Permanent Secretary for Economic Development, Ms Eva Cheng, today (July 24) presented cheques to 13 cadets who joined the Sea-going Training Incentive Scheme and completed their employment contracts.
Speaking at the cheque presentation ceremony, Ms Cheng said, "It is heartening to learn that among the 19 cadets who have completed the training course, 14 have acquired their first professional qualification. This proves the success of the scheme, which has attracted enthusiastic and intelligent young people to join our thriving shipping industry."
She also thanked all the industry participants, especially the employers of these cadets, for their strong support of the scheme.
With the full support of the Hong Kong Maritime Industry Council (MIC), the scheme was launched in July 2004 to alleviate the shortage of home-grown ex-seagoing professionals to fill shore-based positions. Up to now, the Government has approved a total of 48 applications. Some 20 cadets are expected to join the scheme this summer.
"In our recent promotion campaign for the scheme at the major maritime education institutions, we gathered that some 20 cadets would be joining the scheme this summer. Also it is likely that the number will rise in the coming years," Ms Cheng said, urging shipowners to provide more training opportunities for the youngsters.
"The Council will be launching the Ship-repair Training Incentive Scheme shortly to attract more people to the ship-repair industry, which is facing a serious shortage of skilled workers. The first training under this new scheme will be on ship-repair welding. Depending on the industry's demand, the scheme may be extended to other ship-repair skills," she said.
"Hong Kong's maritime sectors had a very good year in 2005. Our shipowners and managers' market share in the world's merchant fleet has further expanded," she noted.
According to the Hong Kong Shipowners Association, the gross tonnage of vessels controlled and managed by the local shipowners and managers increased by 17% in 2005 to over 45 million tons. The number of vessel arrivals to the port reached a record high of 232,000. The business receipts of maritime transport activities also increased by over 20%.
With more than 1,100 ships totalling over 30 million gross tonnage under the city's Shipping Register at the end of June this year, Hong Kong is now the world's fifth largest shipping register.
There are some 900 shipping-related companies operating in Hong Kong, providing high quality maritime finance, insurance, legal, arbitration, brokerage, ship management and ship survey services.
"I am confident that the maritime industry will present a very bright future to our youngsters possessing the prerequisite sea-going experience," Ms Cheng added.
Ends/Monday, July 24, 2006
Issued at HKT 19:20
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