WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1979
15
HE URGED THE GOVERNMENT TO RESPOND SOONER TO THE COUNCIL'S RECOMMENDATIONS, SUBMITTED MORE THAN A YEAR AGO, FOR THE GENERAL LEVY SCHEME, +NEEDED TO COMPLEMENT AND COMPLETE THE WORK DONE BY THE TEACHING INSTITUTIONS.+
+ INDEED, WITHOUT SUCH A TRAINING SYSTEM, THE COMMUNITY WOULD NOT GET A PROPER RETURN FROM ITS INVESTMENT ON EDUCATION,+ HE SAID.
MR. TIEN POINTED OUT THE TRAINING COUNCIL HAS NOW EXTENDED ITS ACTIVITIES TO THE COMMERCIAL AND SERVICE SECTORS WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT RECENTLY OF NEW TRAINING BOARDS, AND IT IS LIKELY THAT OFF-THE-JOB TRAINING SCHEMES SIMILAR TO THOSE PROPOSED TO DATE WILL BE PLANNED.
HE SAID HONG KONG CANNOT AFFORD TO PROCRASTINATE.
+AN INDUSTRIAL TRAINING SYSTEM WHICH IS CAPABLE OF MAKING AVAILABLE TRAINING IN ANY AREA, AS AND WHEN THE NEED ARISES, IS VITAL TO THE SUCCESS OF ANY EFFORT AIMED AT UPGRADING PRODUCTS AND ITS DIVERS IF ICATION AND ALSO TO ATTRACT OVERSEAS INVESTORS ENGAGED IN HIGH TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIES, HE NOTED.
+DIVERS IF ICATION, UPGRADING OF THE LEVELS OF PRODUCTS, AND ADOPTION OF HIGHER TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIES ARE LITTLE MORE THAN EMPTY WORDS AND PHRASES UNLESS WE HAVE SUITABLY TRAINED MANPOWER TO MAKE THESE ACTIVITIES POSSIBLE,+ HE STRESSED.
SUPPORT FOR CUTBACKS IN PUBLIC SPENDING ******
THE HON. ALEX WU SAID IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY) THAT AS A RESULT OF THE DEVELOPMENT IN 1978, HONG KONG NOW FACES THE POSSIBILITY OF A FURTHER GROWTH OF IMPORTS, A WIDENING VISIBLE TRADE DEFICIT, A FURTHER DEPRECIATION IN THE HK DOLLAR AND SUBSTANTIAL INFLATION, BEFORE THE ECONOMY'S EQUILIBRIUM CAN BE RESTORED.
MR. WU SUPPORTED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S PROPOSED REDUCTIONS IN PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, AND THE CONSEQUENTIAL POSTPON ING OF THE INTRODUCTION OF FURTHER GOVERNMENT SERVICES.
THIS IS IN THE INTERESTS OF THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE, INCLUDING THOSE MEMBERS WHOM THE SOCIAL SERVICES WOULD BE DESIGNED PRIMARILY TO HELP. + INFLATION SEEMS TO ME AN UNACCEPTABLE PRICE TO HAVE TO PAY FOR IMPROVING SOCIAL SERVICES TOO HURRIEDLY, + HE SAID.
HE WOULD ONLY SUGGEST THAT THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS USES ANY POSTPONEMENT IN THE LETTING OF CONTRACTS FOR PUBLIC WORKS PROJECTS, TO BUILD UP A RESERVE OF CONTRACTS READY TO BE PUT OUT AS SOON AS THE STATE OF THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY PERMITS.
/THI FUBLIC