WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1983
+A DECISION ON WHETHER PLANNING FOR A THIRD UNIVERSITY SHOULD PROCEED IS EXPECTED BY THE END OF THE YEAR OR EARLY NEXT YEAR.
+EXPERTS IN THE FIELD OF HIGHER EDUCATION AS WELL AS THE PUBLIC WILL BE DELIGHTED IF THE DECISION IS IN FAVOUR OF EARLY ACTION, MR WONG SAID.
ON THE LABOUR FRONT, MR WONG SAID THAT THERE WERE MERITS IN THE PROPOSAL FOR A CONTRIBUTORY SICKNESS INSURANCE SCHEME AND DESCRIBED THE PROPOSED WAGE SECURITY FUND AS +SIMPLE AND INEXPENSIVE TO OPERATE+.
HE ADDED, IN CONSIDERING FURTHER BENEFITS AND PROTECTION FOR OUR WORK FORCE, GOVERNMENT MUST ENSURE THAT ANY INCREASE WOULD NOT ADVERSELY AFFECT THE COMPETITIVENESS OF OUR PRODUCT AND THE ECONOMY AS A WHOLE,+
TURNING TO HOUSING, HE WELCOMED THE GOVERNMENT'S PLAN TO REHOUSE ABOUT HALF OF THE SOME 100 000 FAMILIES LIVING IN TEMPORARY HUTS OVER THE NEXT FIVE YEARS AND THE PROGRAMME TO IMPROVE SAFETY, SANITATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN SQUATTER AREAS.
IN VIEW OF THE RISING CRIME RATE, MR WONG SAID THAT THERE WAS A STRONG CASE FOR FURTHER STRENGTHENING THE POLICE FORCE, ESPECIALLY IN CRIME PREVENTION AND DETECTION.
ON THE IMPRISONMENT OF CIVIL DEBTORS, HE REITERATED THAT THEY SHOULD NOT BE COMMITTED TO PRISON.
+IN SHORT, APART FROM THE GLARING INJUSTICE, CRIMINAL SANCTION SHOULD HAVE NO PLACE IN THE CIVIL JURISDICTION OF OUR COURTS, + HE ADDED.
HE NOTED THAT THE MATTER HAD ATTRACTED ATTENTION EVEN AS FAR AWAY AS CANADA, AND THANKED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND HIS PREDECESSOR FOR THEIR PERSONAL INTEREST AND ATTENTION.
+1 AM SURE THE FINAL OUTCOME WILL DO JUSTICE TO OUR
IMAGE AND OUR SYSTEM OF LAW, HE SAID,
COMMENTING ON THE GOVERNMENT'S CONSULTATIVE MACHINERY, MR WONG SAID THAT THE DISTRICT BOARDS HAD ADDED A NEW DIMENSION TO THE CONSULTATIVE PROCESS.
+AND THE RECENT APPOINTMENT OF ELECTED DISTRICT BOARD MEMBERS TO THE TWO HIGHEST COUNCILS HAS FURTHER STRENGTHENED THE CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION AND CONSULTATION BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE. CERTAINLY, ANOTHER STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, MR WONG SAID.
ON THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG, MR WONG SAID THAT THE TERRITORY'S PROSPERITY OWED MUCH TO A SOUND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK, AN EQUITABLE LEGAL SYSTEM AND AN INDEPENDENT JUDICIARY.
IT WAS ESSENTIAL FOR HONG KONG'S CONTINUED PROSPERITY THAT THESE BE PRESERVED, HE SAID,
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