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FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 1985
GATT, MFA AMONG FIRST JLG TASKS, GOVERNOR SAYS
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THE NEED TO SECURE QUICKLY HONG KONG'S FUTURE POSITION IN SUCH BODIES AS THE GATT AND THE MFA WOULD BE ONE OF THE FIRST TASKS OF THE SINO-BRITISH JOINT LIAISON GROUP, THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE TOLD MEMBERS OF THE FEDERATION OF HONG KONG INDUSTRIES TONIGHT.
SIR EDWARD WAS SPEAKING AT THE FEDERATION'S SILVER JUBILEE DINNER.
REFERRING ALSO TO WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS +A LEGITIMATE CONCERN+ OF THE FEDERATION ABOUT THE IMPACT OF LABOUR AND POLLUTION LEGISLATION ON INDUSTRY, THE GOVERNOR SAID:
+ CAN ASSURE YOU THAT THE GOVERNMENT DOES AND WILL CONTINUE TO WEIGH VERY CAREFULLY THE ECONOMIC CONSEQUENCES OF SUCH LEGISLATION BEFORE ITS INTRODUCTION.+
THE FEDERATION, SIR EDWARD SAID, FACED A NEW CHALLENGE, AS IT WOULD BE ONE OF THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES FOR ELECTIONS TO THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL IN SEPTEMBER.
THIS UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANT ROLE WHICH THE FEDERATION WOULD CONTINUE TO HAVE IN SHAPING THE FUTURE OF HONG KONG.
+ I HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT THE FEDERATION, WITH ITS SOLID 25 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, WILL RISE TO THE CHALLENGES OF THE FUTURE,+ HE SAID, WISHING IT EVERY SUCCESS.
SIR EDWARD SAID THAT HE WAS VERY PLEASED TO CELEBRATE THE SILVER JUBILEE WITH MEMBERS OF ONE OF THE OLDEST AND LARGEST INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS IN HONG KONG.
THE FEDERATION WAS TO BE CONGRATULATED ON ITS MANY CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF HONG KONG INDUSTRY DURING THE 25 YEARS.
+TO QUOTE ONLY A FEW EXAMPLES -- THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HONG KONG INDUSTRIAL DESIGN COUNCIL AND THE HONG KONG PACKAGING COUNCIL, AND THE HONG KONG +Q-MARK+ QUALITY ASSURANCE SCHEME.
+ IT IS ALSO AN EFFECTIVE AND RESPECTED VOICE FOR INDUSTRY, + HE SAID.
THE MANUFACTURING SECTOR, HE SAID, REMAINED THE BACKBONE OF THE ECONOMY, DESPITE THE EXPANSION AND GROWING IMPORTANCE OF HONG KONG'S ́SERVICES SECTOR.
THERE HAD BEEN A PHENOMENAL GROWTH IN MANUFACTURING EN HONG KONG, AND A SIGNIFICANT TRANSFORMATION OF THE LIGHT INDUSTRIAL STRUCTURE FROM THE LABOUR-INTENSIVE PRODUCTS OF THE SIXTIES TO THE TECHNOLOGY-INTENSIVE. HIGH QUALITY PRODUCTS OF TODAY.
THIS HAD