THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 1981
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HE SAID THE GOVERNMENT FACES SIMILAR PROBLEMS TO THE SERVICE INDUSTRIES IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, ADDING THAT THE VACANCY RATIO OF ABOUT 10 PER CENT IS EVIDENCE THAT THESE PROBLEMS ARE REAL ONES.
+ALL SERVICE INDUSTRIES, HOWEVER, NEED TO BE PARTICULARLY CAREFUL AS MODERN TECHNOLOGY' IN THE OFFICE REVOLUTION ISES MANY OF THE TRADITIONAL METHODS OF CONDUCTING BUSINESS.
+SUCH PROGRESS MAY WELL TURN OUT TO BE FASTER THAN WE ANTICIPATE, AND WE MUST AVOID BUILDING UP A PERMANENT WORKFORCE TO A SIZE THAT IN THE FUTURE COULD BE DIFFICULT TO EMPLOY.
+ I WOULD ADD THAT IN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES IT IS ALSO FOR CONSIDERATION WHETHER GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR WOULD DERIVE MUTUAL BENEFIT FROM A GREATER DEGREE OF INTERCHANGE OF STAFF AT ALL LEVELS OF SENIORITY.+
ON THE ADAPTATION OF THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION SYSTEM TO PROVIDE A MODEL FOR FORECASTING PURPOSES IN CONNECTION WITH FUTURE DRAFT ESTIMATES, MR BROWN OP INED THAT IT IS VITAL THAT WE EQUIP OURSELVES WITH ADEQUATE TOOLS TO MANAGE OUR AFFAIRS IN THESE COMPLICATED TIMES.
BUT HE ALSO CALLED FOR THE PRODUCTION AND PUBLICATION OF SEASONALLY ADJUSTED ECONOMIC DATA, PARTICULARLY ON EXTERNAL TRADE, WHICH HE SAID +WOULD GO SOME WAY TO REDUCING THE DEGREE OF UNCERTAINTY IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SOME AREAS OF THE ECONOMY REFERRED TO IN THE (FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S) BUDGET SPEECH+,
LAND FOR DYEING AND FINISHING INDUSTRY CALL
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A SUGGESTION THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD MAKE LAND AVAILABLE TO THE DYEING AND FINISHING INDUSTRY WAS MADE BY THE HON STEPHEN CHEONG DURING THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (THURSDAY).
HE NOTED THAT IF THE GROWING TREND TOWARDS PROTECTION ISM IN THE INDUSTRIAL ISED WORLD POSES A SERIOUS DEMAND-SIDE CONSTRAINT UPON OUR EXPORTS OF TEXTILES AND APPAREL, THE PRESENT WEAKNESS OF THE FINISHING SECTOR IS IN DANGER OF CREATING A SUPPLY-SIDE CONSTRAINT, PARTICULARLY FOR THE CLOTHING INDUSTRY.
+ALL THAT THE GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO DO IS TO MAKE AVAILABLE A CERTA IN QUANTITY OF LAND, IN AN OFFENSIVE TRADES AREA, FOR SALE OR LEASE TO THE FINISHING MILLS AT A PRICE REFLECTING THE COST TO THE COMMUNITY OF PROVIDING THE LAND, AND WITH CONDITIONS THAT WOULD LIMIT THE USE OF THE LAND TO SPECIFIC USES.
+THE AREA NEEDS TO HAVE ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY - NATURAL WATER SUPPLY BEING THE MOST DESIRABLE AND ADEQUATE DRAINAGE.+
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MR CHEONG SAID FOUR MAJOR DYEING AND FINISHING MILLS HAVE CEASED TO OPERATE DURING THE PAST THREE YEARS, RESULTING IN A REDUCTION IN THE PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY OF THE ENTIRE FINISHING SECTOR AND A LOSS IN THE TECHNOLOGY THAT THE LARGE MILLS HAVE IN FINISHING HIGH-QUALITY FABRICS,
/ALTHOUGH ONE