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Awards were today (January 8) presented to a group of outstanding Skills Upgrading Scheme (SUS) trainees in the electrical and mechanical (E&M) engineering industry in recognition of their efforts in upgrading their skills, possession of professional knowledge and work safety awareness.
The 2009-10 E&M Excellent Students Award Presentation Ceremony was organised by the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Industry of SUS of the Labour and Welfare Bureau.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Convenor of the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering Industry Working Group of SUS, Mr Paul Chong Kin-lit, said, "This is the second time we have presented the E&M Excellent Students Awards. The awardees are worth commending for being outstanding technical workers and demonstrating the spirit of self-improvement and lifelong learning.
"Thirty thousand E&M trainees have attended 1,500 training classes under SUS since the inception of the scheme for E&M engineering industry in 2002.
"E&M engineering industry is one of the sectors that requires high level of skills and covers a wide range of services. The demand for well-trained E&M workers will increase in the next few years when many infrastructural projects enter the main construction stage. As such, we should pursue continuous learning to acquire new skills and equip ourselves for the opportunities ahead."
Also officiating at the ceremony, the Assistant Director of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, Mr Tai Tak-him, said, "I hope the E&M workers can upgrade their skills and enhance their competitiveness through the SUS, hence, contribute to the major infrastructural projects of Hong Kong."
Other officiating guests included the President of the Hong Kong Federation of Electrical and Mechanical Contractors Limited, Mr Otto Poon; the Chairman of the Federation of Hong Kong Electrical & Mechanical Industries Trade Unions, Mr Lai Chi-wah; the Chairman of the Electrical and Mechanical Services Training Board, Vocational Training Council, Mr Synn Raymond Cheung; the Executive Member of the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers, Mr Joseph Leung Chi-ming; the Convenor of E&M Excellent Students Award Working Group, Mr Chow Cheuk-tao; and the Assistant Secretary for Labour and Welfare, Ms Iona Sham Hiu-tung.
The SUS, which was introduced in 2001, now covers 26 industries. It provides professional and specific skills training for in-service workers with an aim of enhancing their employability and competitiveness in the labour market as well as promoting the culture of self-improvement and lifelong learning.
Ends/Friday, January 8, 2010
Issued at HKT 18:45
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