50
Wednesday, March 29, 1972
He explained that processing a loan application would involve
consideration by a commercial bank, the Productivity Centre, and by his own
department but, despite that he was hopeful that decisions would be
reached within two or three weeks.
On the Hon. T.K. Ann's suggestion that an appraisal should be
made of Hong Kong's manufacturing industry in an attempt to assess its
potential in various spheres, Mr. Lee said he shared Mr. Ann's concern to
equip manufacturers with the services their industries required and with
the facts which entrepreneurs had to have if they were to continue to
make profitable decisions.
Complex Proposal
"But the proposal is a complex one and has implications which I
should like to reflect upon before suggesting ways in which it might best
be met and before recommending the extent to which Government could and
should take part."
The Hong Kong Productivity Centre and the Trade Development
Council existed to serve the manufacturer and Mr. Ann was familiar with
the research carried out in the department of Commerce and Industry into
a series of selected industries, he said.
"I intend first to consult the other agencies involved in the promotion of Hong Kong's industry and trade in the hope that some agreement
may be reached on priorities for research into the needs of industry and
on the most effective means of carrying it out," he added.
/On the
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