WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17, 1985
24
INDUSTRIAL ZONE IDEA SEEN AS 'KNEE-JERK REACTION'
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THE CALL FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A BORDER ZONE FOR KNITTING FACTORIES USING LABOUR COMMUTING DAILY FROM GUANGDONG PROVINCE WAS A KNEE-JERK REACTION TO A DESPERATE PLIGHT, THE SECRETARY FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, MR E.P. HO SAID TODAY AT THE RESUMED BUDGET DEBATE.
+ BUT ON SOBER REFLECTION THIS SORT OF ARRANGEMENT COULD NOT JUST HAPPEN OVER-NIGHT, INFRASTRUCTURAL AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT WOULD BE NEEDED. SO ANY STRUCTURAL ADJUSTMENT FOR OUR KNITWEAR INDUSTRY THROUGH THE EXPEDIENT OF A BORDER ZONE WOULD TAKE NO LESS TIME THAN ADJUSTMENT BY OTHER MEANS,+ MR HO SAID.
HE WAS REPLYING TO THE PROPOSALS FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF AN INDUSTRIAL ZONE AT THE BORDER AND FOR THE SETTING UP OF A COMMITTEE TO LOOK INTO THE FEASIBILITY AND ADVISABILITY FOR SUCH A ZONE.
MR HO SAID THAT THE CONCEPT OF A FACTORY ZONE AT THE BORDER MANNED BY DAILY COMMUTING LABOUR FROM THE GUANGDONG SIDE, BY IMPLICATION MEANT THAT SUCH LABOUR WOULD NOT HAVE THE RIGHT OF RESIDENCE IN HONG KONG.
+SOME MEANS OF ENSURING THAT THE LABOUR RETURNED TO CHINA EACH DAY, AND DID NOT TRY AND SETTLE ILLEGALLY HERE, WOULD HAVE TO BE DEVISED. THE WHOLE OPERATION WOULD IMPOSE AN UNACCEPTABLE BURDEN ON THE POLICE AND IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES, HE SAID.
MR HO NOTED THAT HONG KONG WAS ENGAGED IN A MASSIVE PROGRAMME OF DEVELOPMENT OF NEW TOWNS, ALL WITH BALANCED FACILITIES FOR RESIDENTIAL, COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL ACCOMMODATION, FOR EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE, AS WELL AS FOR CULTURAL AND RECREATIONAL PURSUITS.
+THIS ALONE MUST MEAN THAT WE SHOULD NOT GO OFF AT A TANGENT AND SEEK TO ESTABLISH A FACTORIES-ONLY ZONE ON THE BORDER. +
MOREOVER, THE BASIC REASON FOR A BORDER ZONE WAS THE ASSERTION THAT HONG KONG WAS SHORT OF LABOUR, HE ADDED.
+FINALLY, WE MUST NOT DO ANYTHING WHICH COULD LEAD OUR TRADING PARTNERS TO CALL INTO QUESTION THE ORIGIN OF HONG KONG PRODUCTS, OR HONG KONG'S STATUS, NOT WITHSTANDING THE TRANSFORMATION CRITERIA WE STRICTLY ADHERE TO, WHICH THE FUTURE HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION WILL RETAIN AFTER 30 JUNE 1997 AS A SEPARATE CUSTOMS TERRITORY.+
ON THE CALL FOR SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE FOR THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY, MR HO GAVE ASSURANCE THAT GOVERNMENT WAS COMMITTED TO PROVIDING AN ADEQUATE INFRASTRUCTURE TO ENABLE INDUSTRY TO FUNCTION EFFICIENTLY WITH MINIMUM INTERFERENCE.
/+IN THIS