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Thursday, March 16, 1972
He commended Government's foresight of preparing "fertile ground"
for Hong Kong's industrial expansion by providing housing schemes for workers,
industrial town planning, water supplies for industrial use, productivity
promotion, export credit insurance, safety and health policing, just to name
a few.
In planning, he said, Government could see "the forest as well as
the trees" and was sufficiently powerful to point to a direction which
led to new successes.
"The main concern of a Government is to ensure full employment
and to improve the quality of life of its population."
More Technicians
Mr. Ann pointed out that although a private entrepreneur knew
better than Government what was best for himself and his business, he knew
only what was good individually and not collectively.
Hong Kong needed a great many more technicians and craftsmen trained
in fundamentals, and the technologists which the new polytechnic would be
aiming to produce, he said.
"Our industrial workers must be better educated and technically
prepared in line with what is happening in our neighbouring countries,
otherwise we will be outpaced by them in no time," he pointed out.
Citing figures in the 1971 Census, Mr. Ann said it showed that
20,900 children in the 12 and 13 age groups were not attending school nor
could they join industry.
of the age *****