§ 80. Mr. Awberyasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what steps have been or are being taken to prepare alternative employment and training for the dockyard workers of Hong Kong who will be dismissed when the British Naval Base closes down next year.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydTo make it easier for dockyard workers to find other jobs they are being discharged gradually over two years. An Employment Advisory Committee and an Employment Liaison Office have been set up. On these bodies the civil and service authorities and local employers are co-operating admirably and of the 396 workers so far discharged only 15 below normal retiring age are now unemployed.
The question of training arises only for apprentices and trade boys. These
154Wwill go on being trained in the dockyard as long as possible and when they are discharged every effort will be made to get them re-employed where training can continue.