WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1979
GOVERNOR MEETS CHINA'S MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS ******
THE GOVERNOR, SIR MURRAY MACLE HOSE, NOW IN PEKING ON AN OFFICIAL VISIT, IS EXPECTED TO CALL ON A STATE LEADER TOMORROW (THURSDAY) MORNING.
IN THE AFTERNOON, SIR MURRAY WILL MEET MR. HUANG HUA, MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, AND THE VICE-MINISTER OF RAILWAYS.
THE GOVERNOR WILL HOLD A RETURN BANQUET IN HONOUR OF MR. LI QIANG, MINISTER OF FOREIGN TRADE, IN THE RESIDENCE OF MR. PERCY CRADOCK, BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO CHINA.
HE WILL LEAVE PEKING ON FRIDAY MORNING FOR SIAN.
THIS (WEDNESDAY) MORNING, THE GOVERNOR CALLED ON THE DIRECTOR OF THE BUREAU OF TRAVEL, MR. Li XUZHANG, AND FOUND TIME TO VISIT THE OFFICES OF SUN HUNG KAI AND JARDINES.
IN THE AFTERNOON, SIR MURRAY WILL VISIT THE GREAT WALL AND MING TOMBS AND WILL ATTEND A BALLET PERFORMANCE (SWAN LAKE) IN THE EVENING.
CALL FOR GOVT TO SET UP THINK TANK'
****
THE HON. JOHN BREMRIDGE SUGGESTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT SET UP A THINK TANK+ TO COPE WITH ITS GROWING MANAGEMENT ROLE, WHEN HE COMMENTED ON THE BUDGET IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
HE SAID THE PRESSURES ON SENIOR CIVIL SERVANTS, WHO HAVE TO BE BOTH MINISTERS AND ADMINISTRATORS, ARE ENORMOUS AND HE WONDERED IF THEY HAVE ENOUGH TIME, ANY TIME FOR BROODING, FOR LATERAL THINKING, FOR REAL INNOVATION, +
HE SUGGESTED THAT IT MIGHT BE USEFUL TO HAVE REPORTING TO THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY OR THE CHIEF SECRETARY, A GROUP OF TWO OR THREE YOUNG ISH BUT EXPERIENCED HONG KONG-BORN ADMINISTRATIVE GRADE OFFICERS WHOSE FULL TIME JOB OVER A THREE-YEAR POSTING WOULD BE TO THINK FORWARD AND SIDEWAYS EITHER AS SELF STARTERS OR ON GIVEN PROJECTS BUT WITHOUT ADMINISTRATIVE CHORES.
MR. BREMRIDGE SET FORTH HIS OWN THINKING ON A NUMBER OF FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC ISSUES ON WHICH, HE SAID, THERE CANNOT BE EXTREME BLACK OR WHITE VIEWS BUT WHICH ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO COMMON SENSE +GRAY+ SOLUTIONS,
VEHICLE TAXATION
HE SAID HE REJECTS THE EQUITY OR LOGIC OF CONTROLLING ROAD USAGE BY LICENCE COST OR FIRST REGISTRATION TAX. MOREOVER HE THOUGHT WORKERS MUST BE GIVEN THE INCENTIVE OF CAR OWNERSHIP.
/+LET US