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Saturday, January 26, 1974
Wherever practical, he said, courses should be slanted so as to
contain what might be called a Hong Kong content. "For after all, most
graduates are going to live and work in Hong Kong after graduation."
He felt that there were plenty of examples in the field of economics
where Hong Kong problems could provide fruitful areas for study and research
and noted that the Commerce and Industry Department would only be too pleased
to collaborate with the universities in lecture areas to mutual advantage.
Mr. Haddon-Cave also exhorted university staff and students to take an
interest in the government's handling of community affairs by following what
was being done.
He pointed out that the Hong Kong government was well documentad
and drew attention to the many publications tabled on Budget Day and others.
Referring to the oft mentioned gap between the government and
the public, the Financial Secretary said that while this might be true in
a very general, sense, he doubted whether it was true in a practical sense
considering the system of government in Hong Kong.
Almost every important policy area, he said, involved either an
advisory board or ad hoc committee or a competent statutory authority in
which both officials and members of the public concerned hammered out solutions
for the common good. And when this had been done, he added, findings were
published for general public debate and comment.
Mr. Haddon-Cave also expressed doubt whether the gap really existed
considering the close contacts particular government departments have with
particular sections of the community notably the Housing Department with
their tents and the Commerce and Industry Department with the business
community, among otherE,
/Perhaps ............