N
FRIDAY, JNE 28, 1985
THIS HAD MEANT MORE HONG KONG CONTENT IN MANUFACTURES, MANIFESTED IN THE VERY SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE VALUE-ADDED PER MANUFACTURING WORKER IN THE LAST DECADE.
THE ENVIRONMENT UNDER WHICH HONG KONG MANUFACTURERS HAD TO OPERATE HAD NOT ALWAYS BEEN CONGENIAL, SIR EDWARD SAID.
+RISING COSTS, COMPETITION FROM COUNTRIES WITH LOWER LABOUR COSTS, THE FICKLENESS OF FASHION ARE CHALLENGES WHICH OUR MANUFACTURERS FACE EVERY DAY.
+AND THEY HAVE ALSO TO OPERATE UNDER THE EVER-PRESENT THREAT OF PROTECTIONIST PRESSURES IN SOME OF OUR MAJOR MARKETS.
+ALL THIS MEANS THAT OUR INDUSTRY MUST ALWAYS BE SEEKING TO DIVERSIFY AND TO UPGRADE NOT ONLY ITS PRODUCTS, BUT ALSO ITS MARKETS, HE SAID.
POINTING OUT THAT THIS REQUIRED REGULAR INVESTMENT AND REINVESTMENT IN NEW PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, SIR EDWARD SAID HE WAS PLEASED TO NOTE THAT THE SLACKNESS IN INDUSTRIAL INVESTMENT AND REINVESTMENT OF 1982 AND 1983 HAD NOW BEEN REVERSED.
IN 1984, THE VALUE OF RETAINED IMPORTS OF INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY INCREASED BY 26.3 PER CENT IN REAL TERMS COMPARED WITH THE YEAR BEFORE.
THE GOVERNMENT, SIR EDWARD SAID, INTENDED TO CONTINUE THE WELL PROVEN POLICIES ON WHICH HONG KONG'S ECONOMIC SUCCESS HAD BEEN BASED OF PROVIDING INDUSTRY WITH AN EFFICIENT INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THEN ALLOWING IT TO FUNCTION WITH MINIMUM INTERFERENCE.
IT ALSO
AND, IN DRAWING UP ITS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES, PLACED GREAT IMPORTANCE ON CONSULTATION WITH INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS, LIKE THE FEDERATION, TO ENSURE THAT THE NEEDS OF INDUSTRY WERE FULLY TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT IN THE PLANNING PROCESS, HE SAID.
+VOTER REGISTRATION GOING VERY MUCH BETTER+
****
THE GOVERNOR, SIR EDWARD YOUDE, SAID TODAY THAT THE FINAL REGISTRATION OF VOTERS IN THE FUNCTIONAL CONSTITUENCIES FOR THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL ELECTION WAS GOING VERY MUCH BETTER, AND HE HOPED THAT AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE WOULD PARTICIPATE.
+PEOPLE HAVE UNTIL MONDAY EVENING IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE IR REGISTRATION. HE SAID, +! HOPE WE SHALL HAVE A LAST- MINUTE RUSH BECAUSE THESE ELECTIONS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.
/+WE HAVE