THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 1983
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+THE CONSULTANTS FOR THE STAGE ONE STUDY WERE APPOINTED IN AUGUST 1979 AND REPORTED IN EARLY 1980 CONFIRMING THE DEMAND. IN NOVEMBER 1980 THE GOVERNOR-IN-COUNCIL ORDERED THAT CONSULTANTS BE APPOINTED TO UNDERTAKE STAGE TWO OF THE STUDY TO DRAW UP SPECIFICATIONS FOR AN EXHIBITION CENTRE AND TO PREPARE ESTIMATES OF CAPITAL AND RECURRENT COSTS, AND POTENITAL INCOME. A NON-STATUTORY BOARD UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF MR SANDBERG WAS APPOINTED IN MARCH 1981 TO SELECT THE CONSULTANTS FOR THE STAGE TWO STUDY AND TO OVERSEE THEIR WORK.
+EARLY IN ITS DELIBERATIONS WITH THE PROSPECTIVE CONSULTANTS, THE NON-STATUTORY BOARD CONCLUDED THAT THE SITE ORIGINALLY EARMARKED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN TSIM SHA TSUI EAST WAS NOT SUITABLE AND STAGE TWO OF THE CONSULTANCY COULD NOT BE STARTED UNTIL JULY 1982 AFTER A VALUABLE SITE ON THE WAN CHAI WATERFRONT HAD BEEN IDENTIFIED AS A MORE APPROPRIATE LOCATION.+
MR HO EMPHASISED THAT THE SYSTEMATIC ACTION BY THE GOVERNMENT IN THE CONSIDERATION OF THIS PROJECT WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE NEED TO ENSURE ITS VIABILITY.
+I NOTE THAT THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT WHILE NOT UNAWARE OF THE VALUE OF EXPORTS HAVE REFUSED TO SUBSIDISE AN EXHIBITION CENTRE. IN THEIR ADVOCACY MY UNOFFICIAL COLLEAGUES WERE SEEMINGLY UNCONCERNED ABOUT VIABILITY. IF I MAY SAY SO, THIS IS NO WAY TO CONTROL PUBLIC SECTOR EXPENDITURE.
+ IN CONCLUSION, I MUST REPEAT THAT ANY EXHIBITION CENTRE MUST BE VIABLE. THIS IS THE ISSUE TO BE FACED, MR HO ADDED.
CONTINUED SUPPORT FOR INDUSTRY PLEDGED
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THE GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE TO ENSURE THE PROVISION OF AN EFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND SUPPORT SERVICE TO LOCAL INDUSTRY, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR E.P. HO TOLD THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL MEETING TODAY (THURSDAY).
HE WAS COMMENTING ON THE POINTS MADE BY THE UNOFFICIAL MEMBERS REGARDING GOVERNMENT'S ROLE IN INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT DURING THE DE BATE ON THE GOVERNOR'S POLICY SPEECH.
+THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT WORKS CLOSELY WITH TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS, ESPECIALLY THE INDUSTRIAL ESTATES CORPORATION, TO ENCOURAGE LOCAL AND OVERSEAS INDUSTRIALISTS TO INVEST IN INDUSTRY IN HONG KONG THROUGH ITS INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PROMOTION ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY THE ONE-STOP UNIT IN HONG KONG AND FOUR OVERSEAS OFFICES IN LONDON, TOKYO, STUTTGART AND SAN FRANCISCO.
+THE WIDE-RANGING INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT PROMOTION PROGRAMME, + SAID MR HO, +INCLUDES SUCH ACTIVITIES AS SEMINARS, ATTENDANCE AT TRADE AND INDUSTRIAL FAIRS AND INDUSTRIAL PROMOTION MISSIONS.
+1 SHOULD LIKE TO URGE OUR INDUSTRIALISTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN UPGRADING, DIVERSIFYING OR EXPANDING THEIR MANUFACTURING FACILITIES TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROGRAMME, HE REMARKED.
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