2
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1978
FUTURE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT TO STAY IN INDUSTRIALISTS' HANDS
******
THE GOVERNMENT HAS AGREED THAT CONSULTANTS SHOULD BE APPOINTED TO STUDY AND ADVISE ON THE NEED AND THE VIABILITY OF A PERMANENT INDUSTRIAL EXHIBITION CENTRE IN HONG KONG.
THIS WAS STATED TODAY BY THE DIRECTOR OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS, MR. DAVID JORDAN, WHEN OPENING THE INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT EXHIBITION INDEQUEX 78.
MR. JORDAN'S SPEECH CENTRED ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG'S INDUSTRY WHICH HE POINTED OUT HAD BEEN ADAPTING TO A CHANGING WORLD FOR YEARS.
+ IT IS TYPICAL OF HONG KONG AND NO SURPRISE TO ANY OF US THAT HONG KONG PEOPLE AREN'T SITTING AROUND WAITING FOR THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE ON DIVERSIFICATION TO TELL THEM WHAT TO DO.+
HE SAID THE COMMITTEE WAS EXPECTED TO COMPLETE ITS TASK BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT YEAR BUT THAT IT WAS QUITE CLEAR THAT WHATEVER RECOMMENDATIONS IT MIGHT PRODUCE AND WHATEVER MODIFICATIONS OR EXTENSION OF GOVERNMENT POLICIES MIGHT FOLLOW, THE FINAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR HONG KONG'S CONTINUING INDÚSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT WILL REMAIN WHERE IT IS NOW IN THE HANDS OF THE PEOPLE ACTUALLY ENGAGED IN MANUFACTURING. +
BUT MR. JORDAN ADDED THAT THE INSTITUTIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE WOULD STILL HAVE AN IMPORTANT PART TO PLAY AND EXISTING INSTITUTIONS MIGHT TAKE ON A GREATER ROLE.
+AND THERE MAY BE NEW INSTITUTIONS. AS SOME OF YOU KNOW I HAVE FOR LONG DEPLORED THE LACK IN HONG KONG OF STRONG INDUSTRIAL AND TRADE ASSOCIATIONS. IT'S NOT ENOUGH NOWADAYS JUST TO HAVE A VOICE, EVEN A LOUD VOICE. IT NEEDS TO BE BACKED UP BY RESEARCH SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL, STATISTICAL. AND THAT REQUIRES MONEY, AND FULL TIME STAFF.+
MR. JORDAN SAID THERE WOULD ALSO BE A NEED FOR GREATER CO-ORDINATION OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE VARIOUS INSTITUTIONS CONCERNED WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF INDUSTRY.
AT THE OPENING CEREMONY MR. JORDAN PRESENTED AWARDS TO THE WINNERS OF THE ASIASTAR COMPETITION' WHICH IS SPONSORED BY THE ASIAN PACKAGING FEDERATION WITH THE AIM OF IMPROVING THE REGION'S PACKAGING STANDARDS.
13