N
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1984
ASKED WHETHER HE EXPECTED TO SEE THE PRIME MINISTER, SIR EDWARD SAID EXACT PLANS WERE NOT YET FIXED, BUT THAT HE CERTAINLY WOULD BE SEEING MINISTERS WHILE THERE.
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION ON WHEN THE DEBATE WOULD BE HELD, HE
+ BUT THEY OFTEN DON'T FIX SAID HE HAD NOT YET GOT A DATE FOR IT. THE DATE UNTIL THE WEEK BEFORE. PARLIAMENTARY TIME-TABLES ARE NOT FIXED A LONG TIME IN ADVANCE, HE SAID.
SIR EDWARD ADDED THAT HE EXPECTED TO STAY IN LONDON FOR ABOUT A WEEK. +THEN I SHALL COME BACK MAY BE FOR ABOUT 24 HOURS AND THEN I AM GOING OFF TO JAPAN WITH THE ECONOMIC MISSION.+
IN REPLY TO A QUESTION ON WHEN MRS THATCHER WOULD BE COMING TO HONG KONG, SIR EDWARD SAID, YOU WILL HAVE TO ASK HER OFFICE THAT.+ ASKED WHO WOULD BE REPRESENTING THE UK GOVERNMENT FOR THE SIGNING OF THE JOINT DECLARATION, HE SAID THOSE PLANS WOULD BE ANNOUNCED LATER.
REPLYING TO A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION ON WHETHER HE WOULD BE THERE, THE GOVERNOR SAID, I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED.+
ASKED WHETHER THE GOVERNMENT WOULD BE DOING MORE TO TRY TO PURSUADE THE UNITED STATES TO CHANGE ITS MIND ON THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN RULES, HE SAID, +! CAN ASSURE YOU THAT WE ARE USING EVERY EFFORT WE HAVE TO GET A MODIFICATION, AND I HAVE BEEN PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN THOSE EFFORTS TOO.+
ON WHETHER HE WAS OPTIMISTIC IN THIS ISSUE, HIS REPLY WAS +1 AM ALWAYS OPTIMISTIC.+
HK TO REMAIN EXPORT-ORIENTED
*****
GOVERNOR
HONG KONG WOULD REMAIN AN EXPORT-ORIENTED ECONOMY AND HAD TO REMAIN COMPETITIVE TO BE AS SUCCESSFUL IN THE FUTURE AS IT HAD BEEN IN THE PAST, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE SAID TODAY.
+THIS REQUIRES THAT OUR INDUSTRIES SHOULD ADAPT TO CHANGING MARKET CONDITIONS. SHOULD KEEP ABREAST OF THE LATEST MANUFACTURING TECHNIQUES, AND SHOULD CONTINUALLY IMPROVE THE SKILLS OF ITS WORKFORCE,+ HE SAID.
AND EVERY EFFORT HAD TO BE MADE TO ENSURE THAT THE COMING GENERATION WAS ADEQUATELY TRAINED AND PROPERLY EQUIPPED FOR TOMORROW'S WORLD, HE SAID.
SIR EDWARD WAS SPEAK ING AT THE OPENING OF THE SECOND CLOTHING INDUSTRY TRAINING CENTRE IN KOWLOON BAY THIS AFTERNOON.
/HE LAID