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H.E. THE PRESIDENT-

Professor Poort.

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PROF. POON:

Sir, I congratulate the Financial

Secretary most warmly for producing a balanced Budget.

There are very few places in the world where government cap

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could cut taxes whilst substantially improving various services. I also congratulate the Financial Secretary for adopting a new, innovative format for the draft estimates whereby more information is provided on the 10 objectives of each government department and on how the

funds to be allocated to each department will be devoted to achieving these objectives. This afternoon, I shall concentrate on three specific areas: First, the Committee on Science and Technology; $econdly, industrial develop- ment, and thirdly, the environment.

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Committee on Science and Technology.

At the opening of

the current session of this Council, Sir, you announced

the decision to set up a Committee on Science and 20 Technology to advise the Government on scientific and

technological issues. I am most honoured to have been 22 appointed the Chairman of this Committee in March.

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Certain other non-official members, each with expertise

in a field of science and technology, have also been appointed to the Committee. There are, in addition, seven 26 heads of government departments whose work involves a

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substantial scientific and technological content sitting on the Committee. All of us are keen to offer our best

advice to the Government in relation to the development

Nf 30 of science and technology in Hong Kong. [Sir, the

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Committee on Science and Technology held its inaugural

meeting at the end of March. All members of the Committee agreed to hold a brain storming session later this month to identify areas or issues which should be examined by the Committee with priority. The results of the brain

storming exercise may take the form of an identified need

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