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HONG KONG LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL — 2nd October 1969.
[MR BROWNE] Motion
and Hong Kong operates at the other end of the scale and in our own way we have not been any less successful than the Japanese.
I hear increasing talk of the need for Government regulation of our economy, protection of the domestic market and so on; but I believe that we are really far better off operating under our existing policy of laissez faire within the framework of low taxes, remittability and the minimum of Government restrictions and controls even if this means some undesirable and I hope temporary overheating.
As regards the port and the airport I am very glad to hear that decisions are soon to be taken about establishing proper container ship- ping terminal at Kwai Chung and for extending the runway at Kai Tak.
As we have heard one of the most important problems we have to tackle over the next two years is industrial productivity*. We really are at a critical point now in labour production costs and if our exports are to remain competitive in the '70s we've got to go much faster with this. I realize that it is primarily the responsibility of the private sector to improve productivity. The Productivity Council are making good progress, but this is so important that I like to see the Labour Department instituting an active campaign, with the Productivity Council, to get the message across to labour and to help smaller industries to streamline their working methods. I heartily support Mr SZETO's point† about trying to get some of the hawkers off the streets into the factories and, as regards Mr Wilfred WONG's remarks‡ about financing small industries and companies I am all for it. They will manage but I think it's true to say that in most parts of the world it is the small industries that tend to use labour inefficiently. Dr CHUNG has, I know, some views on the possible role of the Labour Departments and I agree that would be helpful if they could perhaps take some positive line over our manpower problems in the '70s.
Sir, you talked about the long range planning done in various sectors in the Government and in the last two or three years, as a member of various committees, I had the chance of seeing some of this work. I must say I have been struck by how good, careful and imaginative this planning is. But it seems to me that Government tend to be too modest about it. I suggest the Government should, if I may mix the metaphor, consider removing their trumpet from under the bushel and blow it more regular intervals and in the process our new interested young society can one hopes be made more aware and
* Page 4.
† Page 24.
* Page 27. § Page 52.