10
THURSDAY, MARCH 29, 1984
TOUCHING BRIEFLY ON HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC PERFORMANCE OVER THE PAST YEAR, HE POINTED TO THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASES OF RE-EXPORTS TO AND FROM CHINA.
+ HOWEVER, I NOTICE INCREASINGLY, A FEW COUNTRIES HAVE APPOINTED THEIR OWN AGENTS TO TRADE DIRECTLY WITH CHINA, BY-PASSING HONG KONG.
+NOW IS THE TIME FOR US TO EXPLORE WAYS AND MEANS TO MAINTAIN HONG KONG'S COMPETITIVE EDGE IN THIS AREA,+ MR CHEUNG SAID.
ON PERSONAL TAXATION, HE SUPPORTED THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY'S STATEMENT THAT HE WOULD REVIEW INITIAL ALLOWANCES.
+ HOWEVER, I DO HOPE THAT WHEN HE DOES REVIEW THE INITIAL ALLOWANCES, HE WILL PLEASE SOME OF THE PEOPLE WHO SEEM TO RECEIVE THE RAW END OF THE STICK ALL OF THE TIME, NAMELY THE SANDWICH CLASS. LET US HOPE THEY WILL BE TREATED MORE KINDLY IN FUTURE,+ MR CHEUNG SAID.
HE ALSO EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSAL TO SET UP A NEW TERRITORIES REGIONAL COUNCIL WHICH HAD BEEN ENDORSED BY THE HEUNG YEE KUK AND THE DISTRICT BOARDS.
AFTER
ON THE COMPOSITION OF THE COUNCIL, MR CHEUNG SAID, WIDE CONSULTATION AND HAVING GIVEN THIS MATTER A LOT OF THOUGHT, I SUGGEST THAT INITIALLY, THE COUNCIL SHOULD INCLUDE A MAJORITY OF APPOINTED MEMBERS FROM ALL DISTRICTS, SO AS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY FIELD OF EXPERTISE IS REPRESENTED,
+ HOWEVER, IN THE LONG RUN, THE MAJORITY MAY COME FROM ELECTED MEMBERS. THEREFORE I AM CONFIDENT THAT THE PROPOSED REGIONAL COUNCIL WILL RECEIVE POPULAR SUPPORT AND WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE FUTURE,+ HE SAID,
ABOLISH JUNIOR EDUCATION ASSESSMENT SELINA CHOW
*****
THE HON MRS SELINA CHOW TODAY CALLED FOR THE ABOLITION OF THE JUNIOR SECONDARY EDUCATION ASSESSMENT (JSEA).
SPEAKING AT THE ANNUAL BUDGET DEBATE, SHE SAID, +1 AM GREATLY ENCOURAGED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE EDUCATION COMMISSION, AND I HOPE THIS IS ONE OF THE AREAS TO WHICH THE COMMISSION WILL SEE FIT TO ALLOT PRIORITY.
+PARENTS AND EDUCATORS ALIKE HAD AGREED WITH THE LLEWELLYN RECOMMENDATION THAT THE JSEA SHOULD BE ABOLISHED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
/+ASSUMING THE