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LINE WHICH WOULD ADDRESS THE WHOLE SUBJECT AND (INTER ALIA) EMPHASISE THE VARIOUS MEASURES THE GOVERNMENT WAS TAKING TO INCREASE OUTPUT
OF LOCAL QUALIFIED PERSONNEL. AT THE GOVERNOR'S PRESS CONFERENCE
ON 19 APRIL, REFERENCE WAS MADE TO THE DESIRABILITY OF GETTING MORE FACTS ABOUT THE PROBLEM.
BUDGET SPEECH
5.
AGAINST THIS BACKGROUND CAME THE DEBATE ON THE BUDGET SPEECH ON
20 AND 21 APRIL. SEVERAL UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS REFERRED TO THE RELATED
ISSUES OF EMIGRATION AND BRAIN DRAIN. IN DECIDING HOW THE GOVERNMENT
SHOULD REPLY, IT WAS CONCLUDED THAT THIS WAS AN APPROPRIATE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK PLAINLY. THE GOVERNMENT RESPONSE WAS GIVEN BY
SASI IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ON 4 MAY. THE FULL TEXT OF THE
SPEECH IS BEING FORWARDED SEPARATELY VIA OUR LONDON OFFICE. THE
SPEECH WAS WELL RECEIVED LOCALLY AS AN INDICATION THAT THE GOVERNMENT
WAS FACING THE ISSUE SQUARELY AND TAKING SOME ACTION.
TASK FORCE
6. THE ''TASK FORCE' IS AN INTER-DEPARTMENTAL WORKING GROUP
CONVENED BY ASIB. ITS FIRST JOB WILL BE TO MAKE AN INVENTORY OF
ALL THE DATA AVAILABLE WITHIN GOVERNMENT WHICH SHED LIGHT ON THE
OVERALL EMIGRATION/BRAIN DRAIN SITUATION AND CONSIDER HOW MORE
INFORMATION MIGHT CONVENIENTLY BE OBTAINED. THE SECOND PHASE OF INFORMATION GATHERING WILL INVOLVE LIAISON WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR.
で。
•
THE ONLY PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED TERM OF REFERENCE IS 'TO CONSIDER
HO TO IMPROVE OUR KNOWLEDGE OF EMIGRATION MATTERS
HOWEVER, IT SEEMS LIKELY THAT THIS WILL LEAD ON TO CONSIDERATION OF MEASURES TO AMELIORATE THE EFFECTS OF EMIGRATION. FOR EXAMPLE, SUGGESTIONS HAVE ALREADY BEEN RECEIVED FROM RETURNED EMIGRANTS ABOUT THE FACTORS
WHICH INFLUENCE A DECISION TO COME BACK. PARTICULAR REFERENCE HAS
BEEN MADE TO THE PROBLEMS OF MAKING SUITABLE ARRANGEMENTS FOR THEIR CHILDREN'S EDUCATION, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS THAT WILL BE LOOKED INTO. ANOTHER SUGGESTION IS TO SET UP LIAISON/INFORMATION
CENTRES IN POPULAR DESTINATION COUNTRIES TO MAINTAIN CONTACT WITH HONG KONG EMIGRANTS AND PASS ON INFORMATION ABOUT JOB OPPORTUNITIES
IN THE TERRITORY.
WILSON
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