The Hong Kong Jockey Club, one of the SAR's largest employers, is hiring more than 3,000 part-time employees in preparation for the 1997-1998 horse racing season. The club operates more than 120 off-course betting centres, a country club at Beas River and about 150 food outlets at its two race tracks and clubhouses at Happy Valley and Sha Tin. To run these operations, the club requires a small army of employees to serve more than a million customers annually both on race days and throughout the year. At present, the club employs 4,700 full-time staff and about 14,000 part-time. The majority of part-time staff work on the betting operations. Most others are employed in the club's catering operation. Anna Lo, the club's human resources manager (corporate services), said part-time staff were vital to the club's efficient operations. Many opportunities were available for employees to advance within the organisation, Ms Lo said. The three main target groups for part-time employees are housewives, students and secondary job seekers. 'Housewives make up about 60 per cent of our part- time staff and we provide a flexible schedule. For students it's much the same. It's a good way for them to earn money as they attend school and we are flexible [with scheduling] around exam time,' Ms Lo said. At the club's off-course betting branches, about 3,000 part-timers are employed. Ms Lo said there were 1,000 immediate openings for sell/pay shroff, terminal operators and customer relations officers. The positions require working a minimum three-hour shift at either of the race tracks or at one of the off-course betting branches. The sell/pay shroff position requires selling and payout duties for customers at an assigned betting terminal. Candidates must be aged at least 18, have a secondary or above education and be fluent in Cantonese. The position pays $46 an hour and requires no experience. Terminal operators receive telephone bets from account holders and input their betting details into the terminal. The person must speak Cantonese with Putonghua and English an advantage. The person will be posted to one of three telebet centres at Sha Tin, Tsuen Wan or Tsing Yi. The position pays $44-$46 an hour. During the course of the season there will be openings for 3,000 to 4,000 telebet operators. About 100 customer relations assistants are needed to handle customer queries, complaints and claims. They will assist customers in completing betting tickets and the use of self-service betting machines. Candidates should be fluent in Cantonese and English, have Form Five or above and a good service attitude. Part-time betting staff work two to four days a week (flexible) and receive an end- of-season service bonus. Last year employees received bonuses of between $1,700 and $3,000. Benefits include job-related training which can lead to promotion; canteen facilities; shuttle-bus service; special allowances for working Sundays and special race days and a staff recreation centre. On the catering side, the club employs about 1,000 full-time and 3,000 part-time staff to serve the club's 15,500 members as well as the racing public. About 1,000 part-time staff are needed at every race meeting. At the start of the season, catering will be hiring about 600 part-time staff, mainly cooks, waiters, fast-food workers and cashiers. Among the vacancies are positions for Chinese cooks (three years' minimum experience - $415-$535 for a six to eight-hour shift), Western cooks (three years' experience - $335-$440 a shift) and fast-food cooks for canteens (three years' experience - $320-$370 for a six to eight- hour shift). Other positions include waiter/waitress ($210-$310 for a 4.5 to seven-hour shift), barman ($210-$310 for a 4.5 to seven hour shift), fast-food supervisor (one year's experience - $335-$385 for a seven to eight-hour shift) and cashier ($315 for a seven-hour shift). Bus girls, counterhands, kitchen amah/porter and linen room attendants are also required. Catering staff receive a bonus twice during the season. It is based on 10-12 per cent of earnings, performance and the number of years of service. Catering staff receive similar benefits to betting staff. There is a catering recruitment hotline on 2966 7568 and betting posts' recruitment hotline on 2684 1033.