WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1977
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+CONSULTATION IS TAKING PLACE WITH THE LABOUR ADVISORY BOARD AND WITH BOTH SIDES OF INDUSTRY ON WHETHER THE WAGE CEILING IN THE EMPLOYMENT ORDINANCE SHOULD BE RAISED OR REMOVED TO EXTEND PROTECTION TO MORE NON-MANUAL EMPLOYEES, HE SAID.
IN THE NEW TERRITORIES, SIR MURRAY SAID, THE GOVERNMENT WOULD SOON SET UP ADVISORY BOARDS IN ALL DISTRICTS TO ADVISE ON MATTERS AFFECTING THE WELL-BEING OF THE INHABITANTS THERE.
THE BOARDS, WHICH WILL INCLUDE BOTH OFFICIALS AND UNOFFICIALS, WILL ADVISE THE GOVERNMENT ON MATTERS SUCH AS THE LOCAL IMPACT OF TERRITORY-WIDE POLICIES OF CENTRAL DEPARTMENTS, THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL AMENITIES AND RECREATION, AND THE USE IN THE DISTRICT OF FUNDS AVAILABLE UNDER THE LOCAL PUBLIC WORKS VOTE.
ON LEISURE. SIR MURRAY STRESSED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WAS DETERMINED TO DESIGNATE FOUR COUNTRY PARKS EACH YEAR, SO THAT IN FOUR YEARS TIME THERE WILL BE ABOUT 20 COVERING VIRTUALLY ALL THE OPEN COUNTRYSIDE.
HOWEVER, SIR MURRAY SAID ALL THESE WERE UNDER-PINNED BY AND WERE DEPENDENT ON HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE AND THE PRUDENT MANAGEMENT OF OUR FINANCES.
+ THE PROSPECTS FOR 1978 ARE DIFFICULT TO FORECAST AT THIS JUNCTURE ON THE ONE HAND THERE ARE OBVIOUS DANGERS WHICH CANNOT BE QUANTIFIED AT PRESENT, ON THE OTHER RESPECTABLE GROWTH IN INDUSTRIALISED ECONOMIES AND IN WORLD TRADE CAN BE EXPECTED, AND MAY WELL BE STIMULATED BY NEW MEASURES, AND HONG KONG IS WELL PLACED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF WHATEVER GROWTH THERE IS.
+YOU MAY TRUST YOUR GOVERNMENT TO ACT PRUDENTLY IN THE LIGHT OF EVENTS AS THEY UNFOLD, HE SAID.
+NOW THAT OUR PLANS ARE MATURING THEIR IMPACT WILL BE CUMULATIVE OVER THE NEXT FIVE OR SIX YEARS.+
DIFFICULTIES AND UNCERTAINTIES HONG KONG IS BOUND TO HAVE, BUT AS EACH ONE CONFRONTS US NOTHING COULD BE MORE DANGEROUS THAN THE BELIEF THAT SAFETY LIES IN IMMOBILITY ON EITHER THE
INDUSTRIAL OR SOCIAL FRONTS. IT WOULD BE A TOTAL MISCONCEPTION, + HE SAID.
+AND CONDITIONS ARE NOT STATIC EITHER IN THE COUNTRIES OF OUR COMPETITORS OR OUR MARKETS ABROAD.+
HE ADDED: +SO LET US NOT BE DAUNTED BY SUCH ECONOMIC UNCERTAINTIES AS EXIST TODAY. THERE IS MUCH MORE WORKING FOR HONG KONG THAN AGAINST IT- IT ALSO HAD MANY FRIENDS- BUT NO BETTER FRIEND THAN ITSELF AND ITS OWN PEOPLE AND THE INDUSTRIAL AND FINANCIAL AND SOCIAL PHENOMENON WHICH THEY HAVE MADE IT.+
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