Corporate News

Club-funded training centre helps local labour force enhance its competitiveness

27 November 2009

In recent years, Hong Kong has moved out of manufacturing to become a knowledge-based economy.  This means the local labour force must keep enhancing its competitiveness to maintain the city's leading position on the international stage.  With this in mind, The Hong Kong Jockey Club has donated some HK$10 million to FTU Employment Development Service Ltd, under the auspices of The Hong Kong Federation of Trade Unions (FTU), to convert a former school in Tin Hau into an Employment Development Service Centre providing training courses under the Government's Qualifications Framework.

At the Centre's opening ceremony today (27 November), officiating guests included Club Chairman Dr John C C Chan; Secretary for Education Michael Suen; Secretary for Labour and Welfare Matthew Cheung; Director-General of the Social Work Department in the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Zhang Tiefu; Chairman of FTU Ng Chau-pei; and Chairman of FTU Employment Development Service Ltd, Cheng Yiu-tong.

Dr Chan noted that the Club, which had been rooted in Hong Kong for 125 years, was one of the city's largest employers with some 26,000 full- and part-time staff.  It offered training programmes to its staff at all levels and encouraged them to pursue further studies.  "It is our belief that whatever their skills or background, everyone can develop and grow through training," he observed.  "We hope our donation to FTU Employment Development Service Ltd will help people who have lower educational attainment to benefit from different training and retraining programmes at this new facility, equipping them with advanced skills and quality-assured qualifications under the Government's Qualifications Framework.  In this way they will gain more employment opportunities, Hong Kong's employment situation will be improved, and the city's overall labour force will become more competitive."

The new FTU Employment Development Service Centre occupies the former premises of a special school in Tin Hau.  The four-storey building with a floor area of 1,165 square metres has been converted into a training centre suitable for vocational education and adult learning.  It is equipped with a range of training facilities such as a multi-purpose activity room, an outdoor covered playground, training rooms, a beauty parlour, a bakery with kitchen facilities and a mock-up hotel bedroom.

The centre is targeted at helping the grassroots with lower educational attainment, by offering about 100 full- and part-time training courses a year in the areas of sports and recreation, business and finance, personal care, catering and hotel housekeeping.  All courses are designed with reference to the Government's Qualifications Framework.  They are expected to attract around 5,000 enrolments annually.  The centre will also provide placement, job matching and volunteer services for its trainees.

Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Dr John C C Chan says the Club's support for the FTU Employment Development Service Centre will help enhance the technical skills and competitiveness of people with lower educational attainment through training programmes offered under the Government's Qualifications Framework.
Photo 1:
Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Dr John C C Chan says the Club's support for the FTU Employment Development Service Centre will help enhance the technical skills and competitiveness of people with lower educational attainment through training programmes offered under the Government's Qualifications Framework.

Photos 2/3/4: Officiating guests at the eye-dotting, roast pig cutting and plaque unveiling ceremonies.
Photo 2:
Photos 2/3/4:
Officiating guests at the eye-dotting, roast pig cutting and plaque unveiling ceremonies.

Photos 2/3/4: Officiating guests at the eye-dotting, roast pig cutting and plaque unveiling ceremonies.
Photo 3

Photos 2/3/4: Officiating guests at the eye-dotting, roast pig cutting and plaque unveiling ceremonies.
Photo 4

Officiating guests raise a toast to the centre's success.
Photo 5:
Officiating guests raise a toast to the centre's success.

Chairman of FTU Employment Development Service Ltd, Cheng Yiu-tong presents a souvenir to Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Dr John C C Chan.
Photo 6:
Chairman of FTU Employment Development Service Ltd, Cheng Yiu-tong presents a souvenir to Chairman of The Hong Kong Jockey Club Dr John C C Chan.

Photos 7/8: Officiating guests tour the Centre after the ceremony.
Photo 7:
Photos 7/8:
Officiating guests tour the Centre after the ceremony.

Photos 7/8: Officiating guests tour the Centre after the ceremony.
Photo 8

Photos 9/10/11: Renovated from a former school, the FTU Employment Development Service Centre is well equipped with different training facilities.
Photo 9:
Photos 9/10/11:
Renovated from a former school, the FTU Employment Development Service Centre is well equipped with different training facilities.

Photos 9/10/11: Renovated from a former school, the FTU Employment Development Service Centre is well equipped with different training facilities.
Photo 10

Photos 9/10/11: Renovated from a former school, the FTU Employment Development Service Centre is well equipped with different training facilities.
Photo 11

 

 

Other Corporate News