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WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 19, 1983
MR DORWARD WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY THE HON FRANCIS TIEN.
ALL THE OFFICES HAVE FED BACK NUMEROUS INVESTMENT ENQUIRIES TO THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT, CONTRIBUTING TO A TOTAL OF 890 RECEIVED IN 1982 AS COMPARED WITH 650 ENQUIRIES RECEIVED IN 1981.
HE SAID THE HEADS OF THE FOUR OVERSEAS INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION OFFICES WILL BE COMING TO HONG KONG IN MARCH FOR A LIAISON MEETING TO REVIEW INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PROMOTION STRATEGY AND TACTICS IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE GAINED.
THE OPPORTUNITY WILL THEN BE TAKEN TO GIVE BRIEFING TO LOCAL INDUSTRY AND TRADE ORGANISATIONS ON THE WORK OF THE OFFICES AND THE OPPORTUNITIES THEY OFFER, HE SAID.
HOSPITAL RECRUITMENT NOT AFFECTED ***
IT WOULD BE IMPROPER AND UNTIMELY FOR HIM TO COMMENT ON THE REASONS FOR DELAYS IN THE COMPLETION OF THE PRINCE OF WALES HOSPITAL OR ON THE DIRECT AND INDIRECT FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS AS AN ARBITRATION NOTICE HAD ALREADY BEEN SERVED IN RESPECT OF THE GENERAL CONTRACT FOR THE HOSPITAL, THE SECRETARY FOR LANDS AND WORKS, MR DAVID MCDONALD, TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY.
HE WAS ANSWERING A QUESTION BY DR THE HON HO KAM-FAI.
MR MCDONALD SAID THAT AS FAR AS THE RECRUITMENT OF HOSPITAL STAFF WAS CONCERNED HE HAD BEEN ASSURED BY THE DIRECTOR OF MEDICAL AND HEALTH SERVICES THAT THERE WERE NO ADVERSE IMPLICATIONS AS THE RECRUITMENT PROGRAMME FOR STAFF HAD BEEN BASED ON PHASING OVER A PERIOD OF TIME TO ENSURE THAT THE HOSPITAL CAN OPERATE SATISFACTORILY WHEN OPENED.
THREE BILLS PASSED
***
THREE BILLS, THE PUBLIC FINANCE BILL 1982, THE SUPPLEMENTARY APPROPRIATION (1981-82) BILL 1983 AND THE BUILDINGS (AMENDMENT} BILL 1983 WERE PASSED IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL TODAY (WEDNESDAY).
DEBATE ON THE FOLLOWING TWO BILLS WAS ADJOURNED THE MERCHANT SHIPPING (RECRUITING OF SEAMEN) (AMENDMENT) BILL 1983 AND THE INSURANCE COMPANIES BILL 1982 WHICH WERE READ A SECOND TIME.
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