FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1979
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CHINA'S MODERNISATION PROGRAMMES
HAVE SIGNIFICANCE FOR HK
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THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLEHOSE, SAID THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING THAT THE NEW MODERNISATION PROGRAMMES IN CHINA HAVE SIGNIFICANCE FOR HONG KONG.
THE GREATER PROSPERITY AND PRODUCTIVITY OF CHINA CAN ONLY BENEFIT THE ENTIRE WEST PACIFIC REGION, AND GIVE ITS ECONOMIC GROWTH YET FURTHER IMPETUS, HE ADDED.
SPEAKING AT THE FOURTH ANNUAL DINNER OF THE HONG KONG INSTITUTION OF ENGINEERS, SIR MURRAY SAID CLEARLY THEY (THE PROGRAMMES) ARE WELCOME TO THE PEOPLE OF HONG KONG AND OUR ATTITUDE TO THEM IN PRINCIPLE IS TOTALLY POSITIVE, AND MANY HONG KONG BUSINESSMEN ARE ALREADY SEEKING TO PARTICIPATE.+
HE WAS CERTAIN THAT HONG KONG, WITH THE MANY SPECIAL FACILITIES IT HAS TO OFFER, HAS A PART TO PLAY IN THE MODERNISATION PROGRAMME.
+EXACTLY WHAT IT IS WILL EMERGE AS THE PLANS TAKE SHAPE. BUT I THINK AS THE PROGRAMME GATHERS MOMENTUM ONE OF ITS EFFECTS MAY BE TO EXERT UPWARD PRESSURE ON THE SOPHISTICATION AND TECHNOLOGICAL CONTENT OF OUR PRODUCTION. THERE IS NOTHING NEW ABOUT SUCH PRESSURE, IT HAS BEEN EXERTED ON US FROM SO MANY QUARTERS FOR MANY YEARS AND WE HAVE ALWAYS MANAGED TO RESPOND.
+ BUT THIS BRINGS ME BACK TO ENGINEERS, BECAUSE IN THIS PROCESS OF DEVELOPMENT, THE PART OF OUR ENGINEERS AND OF ALL DISCIPLINES OF ENGINEERING WILL BE VITAL- SO WILL THE PART OF THE INSTITUTIONS THAT TRAIN THEM, SIR MURRAY SAID.
EARLIER, SIR MURRAY POINTED OUT THAT THE ENGINEERING PROFESSION HELPED SOLVE ONE OF HONG KONG'S BASIC PROBLEMS LACK OF LAND AND SPACE FOR WHICH TO BUILD NEW INDUSTRIES, AND NEW TOWNS TO MAN THEM.
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HOWEVER HE SAID HE DID NOT IMPLY THAT ENGINEERING WAS ONLY CONCERNED WITH THE MANIPULATION OF MUD AND ROCK, CONCRETE AND STEEL.
LOCAL ENGINEERS ALSO PLAYED A PART IN DESIGNING MACHINES AND PRODUCTS, KEEPING FACTORIES IN TOUCH WITH LATEST TECHNOLOGY AND APPLYING THEM TO HONG KONG'S REQUIREMENTS AND CONSTANTLY PUSHING UPWARDS THE SOPHISTICATION AND COMPETITIVENESS OF THE LOCAL
INDUSTRY.
FURTHERMORE, THEY WERE OCCUPYING MANAGER JAL POSITIONS IN MOST OF HONG KONG'S SIGNIFICANT FACTORIES. AND I AM SURE THAT IF HONG KONG IS TO GROW AND ADAPT TO THE CHANGING WORLD AROUND US, THIS IS ESSENTIAL, SIR MURRAY NOTED.
REFERRING TO THE INSTITUTION'S REQUEST FOR RECOGNITION OF ITS CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP, QUALIFICATION AND OTHER THINGS, SIR MURRAY SAID HE DID NOT FORESEE A LONG DELAY BEFORE THE FIRST STAGE OF RECOGNITION IS GRANTED.