DET
THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1981
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TECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH HELPS INDUSTRY
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HONG KONG NEEDS TO DEVELOP URGENTLY ITS OWN TECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH FACILITIES, THE HON WONG PO-YAN SAID IN LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).
HE SAID THE RECENT ESTABLISHMENT OF THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT BOARD AND A NEW SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DIVISION WITHIN THE TRADE, INDUSTRY AND CUSTOMS DEPARTMENT, THE SETTING UP OF THE CALIBRATION LABORATORY AND THE APPOINTMENT OF A SCIENCE ADVISER ARE INITIAL BUT IMPORTANT STEPS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.
+NONETHELESS, THESE MEASURES ARE IN THE MAIN CONCERNED WITH TAK ING STOCK OF AND IMPROVING EXISTING FACILITIES AND SERVICES TO MEET THE SHORT AND MEDIUM TERM REQUIREMENTS OF OUR INDUSTRIES.+
RESEARCH, HE POINTED OUT, IS A COSTLY PROPOSITION AND THE RATE OF RETURN IS SOMETIMES RATHER SLOW. IT IS A LONG-TERM INVESTMENT WHICH REQUIRES FAR-SIGHTEDNESS AND DETERMINAT JON.
+ I WOULD URGE THAT OUR GOVERNMENT SET OUT PLANS FOR ESTABL IS ING A CENTRAL BODY IN THE LONG TERM, WITH JOINT RESOURCES FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND GOVERNMENT, FOR THE PLANNING, CO-ORDINATION AND CONDUCT OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR INDUSTRIES.+
INITIALLY, SAID MR WONG, THE OFFICE OF THE SCIENCE ADVISER CAN FORM THE NUCLEUS FOR THE FUTURE RESEARCH BODY WHICH CAN BE MADE AN INDEPENDENT AGENCY, CO-ORDINATING SUCH FACILITIES AND SERVICES BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS, THE UNIVERSITIES, THE POLYTECHNIC AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS.
IN THE FUTURE, A POST OF SECRETARY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT MAY BE A LOGICAL DEVELOPMENT.
EXPLAINING THE NEED FOR SUCH A BODY, MR WONG OBSERVED THAT HONG KONG HAD IN RECENT YEARS BEGUN MANUFACTURING PRODUCTS REQUIRING HIGHER LEVEL OF SOPHISTICATION, SUCH AS ELECTRONIC WATCHES AND TOYS, AND COMPUTER COMPONENTS.
AS WE MOVE UP MARKET, WE WILL NEED THE BACK-UP OF MORE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY.
+DIRECT TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY FROM OVERSEAS IS ONE OF THE WAYS AND MEANS OF ACQUIRING SUCH ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY.
THIS SEEMS TO BE A SUITABLE MEASURE FOR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE, HE SAID, BUT CONTINUED RELIANCE ON OVERSEAS SOURCES OF TECHNOLOGY MAY SEVERELY RESTRICT FUTURE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR INDUSTRIAL CAPACITY AND POTENTIAL.
TO SUSTAIN OUR FLIGHT IN INDUSTRIAL TAKE-OFF, WE MUST SEEK TO DIVERSIFY AND BROADEN OUR INDUSTRIAL BASE TO ATTAIN NEW HEIGHTS OF ACHIEVEMENT.
+ IN HER MODERNISATION PROGRAMME, CHINA ALSO LOOKS TO HONG KONG AS A SOURCE OF TECHNOLOGICAL KNOW-HOW.
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