Soldiers from a branch of the border defense forces in Yantai, Shandong province, see off a demobilized soldier. [TANG KE/FOR CHINA DAILY] Employers urged to give preference to ex-military personnel in recruitment Several local governments have adopted measures to help veterans land jobs, following the central government's promise of an all-out effort to boost their well-being. The Beijing Municipal Bureau of Veterans Affairs organized a job fair on Tuesday for employers and veterans in the capital. More than 270 State-owned enterprises and private companies took part. It was the first of its kind for military retirees after the bureau was founded. Nearly 1,000 job vacancies were made available. Miao Lifeng, who heads the bureau, told China Central Television that more than 400 companies applied for a place in the job fair to support veterans, noting that around 660 retirees received initial offers at the event. In late October, the municipal government arranged a similar fair for former soldiers to connect with State-owned enterprises. More than 100 veterans landed jobs at that gathering, local newspapers reported. In late November, authorities in Zhejiang province published a set of 23 guidelines to help veterans find jobs or start their own businesses. Under those guidelines, ex-military personnel in Zhejiang are eligible for free vocational training. State-owned companies must reserve a certain proportion of their job openings each year for ex-soldiers, while government organizations are encouraged to employ more veterans. Veterans who start a business or who hire at least three other military retirees will receive government subsidies for up to three years. In mid-November, Hunan province held a series of recruitment activities to help ex-soldiers enter the civilian workforce. A total of 210 companies have taken part, offering more than 4,800 positions to veterans. The central government published guidelines in August to help veterans find civilian jobs or start businesses. Under the guidelines, each veteran is eligible for two years of free vocational training and a living allowance during the training period. Employers are urged to give preference to veterans in recruitment, set lower requirements for job applicants who have served in the military and arrange periodic training for any veteran they hire. Enterprises that hire veterans may be eligible for tax benefits if they meet certain criteria. County governments or higher authorities have been asked to organize at least two job fairs for military retirees each year, according to the guidelines. On Sunday, the ministry ordered the protection of veterans' rights at all levels of government and reemphasized proper handling of veterans' petitions. It urged relevant departments to fully implement policies to improve veterans' welfare, including helping them find jobs. According to Sun Shaocheng, minister of veterans affairs, more than 530,000 personnel will retire from the armed forces in 2018. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, more than 57 million military personnel have re-entered civilian life, the ministry said. wristbands with a messagecustom wrist bandsbracelet montre silicone 14mmcustom id braceletsmake your own silicone bracelet kit
Hong Kong holds its first large-scale inter-departmental counter-terrorism exercise on March 25, 2019. [Photo/IC] HONG KONG -- Hong Kong held its first large-scale inter-departmental counter-terrorism exercise on Monday at a park on the Hong Kong Island. The exercise, codenamed Powersky, was organized by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government's Inter-departmental Counter Terrorism Unit (ICTU) and participated by about 270 members from six disciplined services, namely the Hong Kong Police Force, the Immigration Department, the Customs and Excise Department, the Correctional Services Department, the Fire Services Department and the Government Flying Service. During different scenarios included in the exercise, members of Hong Kong Police Special Duties Unit could be seen landing on a roof by fast-roping from a helicopter and raiding terrorists hiding in the house. After a terrorist released toxic chemical gas, explosive disposal vehicle rushed to the scene to deal with chemical leakage while decontamination showering system was set up for the affected persons. The exercise, simulating an operation against a terrorist cell plotting an attack in Hong Kong with homemade explosives, aimed to enhance the coordination among various departments on counter-terrorism intelligence and response, and to heighten counter-terrorism awareness of the public, Senior Superintendent of Police Winna Leung of ICTU told media at a briefing before the exercise. ICTU was established in April, 2018 by the HKSAR government's Security Bureau to provide an inter-departmental counter-terrorism platform on top of the existing counter-terrorism framework to enhance Hong Kong's overall counter-terrorism deployment. In Hong Kong, the threat of terrorist attacks is currently assessed to be moderate on a three-level scale, meaning that there is a possibility of attack though there is no specific intelligence suggesting that Hong Kong is a likely target, according to the HKSAR government's Under Secretary for Security Sonny Au. Au said at the briefing that considering the complex and ever-changing global anti-terrorism situation, Hong Kong, as a metropolis, must be well-prepared against terrorist attacks. ICTU aims at enhancing the coordination among departments, and achieving synergy in various aspects such as counter-terrorism intelligence, emergency response and training, he said.
